As the scorching sun beat down on a busy farmer, he suddenly heard the sound of rain.
This soundscape installation is located in Xianglushan Village, Huangmei County, Hubei Province. With the technical support of local villagers and carpenter Wu Chuyun, I explored the local creativity of bamboo crafts and tried to expand it to more possibilities of nature art.
Rain sticks are an indigenous musical instrument from Latin America. They are made by pouring grains into a dried cactus and allowing them to collide with the inserted thorns, creating a sound that resembles falling rain. This sound represents the longing for rain in dry areas. Drawing inspiration from the local ecosystem and crafts in Xianglushan Village, I used bamboo and waterfront gravel to make the rain sticks. The Latin American art form is interpreted as a new sound instrument, providing the local villagers various ways to play it. The rain sticks bring a unique soundscape to the field, echoing memories of water and nourishment.
The rain sticks are different in sizes — half a meter to 3 meters, and the playing techniques are unlimited, so the tones are ever-changing. There are no streams nor creeks on the field, but people can perceive each other from a distance through the sound of water and feel a little cooler under the scorching sun.
Currently, there are multiple construction projects underway in the village. At first, I was bothered by how the peaceful and serene ambiance of nature was being disrupted by these construction activities. However, I later realized that the contrast between these two experiences was interesting and reminded me to be more accepting of all types of sounds. The sound of machinery and tools used for construction is similar to percussion, and the loudspeakers resemble someone rapping. The noises we humans create alert other living beings of our presence, but we should also strive to adapt to our environment. The sounds of construction, conversations among villagers, and the natural soundscape may seem like they belong to different worlds, but they harmonize together in this "farmland theatre.”
This rural public artwork is rooted in the local village tradition, extending more vitality to the agricultural life and contributing back to the villagers. Being away from the fast-food and consumerist culture guides the villagers to realize their irreplaceable culture. The artwork is born in nature and adapts to its environment, opening up more awareness for the urban people.
Most young people in Xianglushan Village have moved to the cities, while those left to farm are elderly aged 60-80. They had experience in craftsmanship when they were young, so they are carpenters, bamboo craftsmen, and farmers. Their crafts range from small handicrafts to house construction. Co-creation of contemporary art with the elderly villagers will help them discover more dimensions of their land during the fallow seasons. The original culture's diversity also attracts the attention of the surrounding areas.
