Chthonic: 72 hours below Earth day

Abstract

This chapter takes as its starting point a durational project in which three artists and an engineer spent seventy-two hours dwelling underground, in a disused lead mine in the North Pennines (in the north of England) They took up residence in the cavernous ‘Ballroom’, spending time engaging in audio experimentation and the production of drawings, writings and video making. The text reflects on the works made (both individual and collaborative) and the perceptual, epistemological and ontological observations arising from this unique performance. One of the key aspects of the experience was the impact of this specific acoustic environment in shaping awareness of processes of listening and in generating a productive resonance with place.