Answer to the Call, 2021
‘The Soul Expanding Ocean #1’ by Taloi Havini at Ocean Space, Venice
photos © gerdastudio
TBA21–Academy presents a solo exhibition dedicated to the artist Taloi Havini at Ocean Space. The exhibition is part of a two-year curatorial cycle entitled The Soul Expanding Ocean by Ocean Space’s 2021 and 2022 curator Chus Martínez.
The commission for Ocean Space is Taloi Havini most ambitious solo exhibition in Europe. Created under conditions of restricted travel imposed by Covid-19, preparing the exhibition required a fresh imagination of distance and presence. Responding to this, Havini’s new commission by TBA21–Academy, Answer to the Call (2021), aims to revitalize and give presence to a multitude of experiences in a space-time continuum amidst intersecting trajectories, pastimes, and lessons in deep-time listening.
A twenty-two-channel sound piece, the work uses an ancient compositional technique that produces a dialogue between these different ways of knowing through a method of a call and response. Through the inclusion of her own Hakö language and instruments that conjure her navigational ancestors, Havini moves beyond a sonic measuring of space and distance, asserting the presence of a much deeper, cyclical understanding of the ocean, space, and time. The track evolves to include archival sources, such as hydrophone recordings of sonar mapping taken on the R/V Falkor, ocean traveling chants, and an instrumental piece composed by renowned Bougainville musician Ben Hakalitz.
Located in the Church of San Lorenzo in Venice, Ocean Space is a planetary center for exhibitions, research and public programs catalyzing ocean literacy and advocacy through the arts. Established and led by TBA21–Academy and building on its expansive work over the past ten years, this embassy for the oceans fosters wonder, engagement, and collective action.
Acknowledgments
The Soul Expanding Ocean #1: Taloi Havini"is commissioned by TBA21 –Academy and co-produced with Schmidt Ocean Institute, co-founded by Wendy Schmidt. The development of this new work was supported by an Artspace Studio Residency.
Chairwoman Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza
Director TBA21 Carlos Urroz
Director TBA21–Academy Markus Reymann
Ceo TBA21–AcademyNiall Smith
Curator Chus Martínez
Assistant Curator María Montero Sierra, Eleni Tsopotou
Sound Design Hayley Forward
Sound Engineer & Assistant Sound DesignFelix Abraham
Composition & Instruments Ben Hakalitz, Mario Celestino
Taloi Havini Studio Production Laura Thompson, Angela Dufty
Production & Project Management DH Office
Technical CoordinationMattia Biadene, Philipp Krummel, M+B studio srl
Technical Partner OTT ART
Education & ResearchValeria Bottalico, Dolly Church, Alessandra Landi, Eirini Lemos, Graziano Meneghin, Alice Ongaro Sartori, Camilla Violo
Director of Public Engagement Mareike Dittmer
Philanthropic Partnership Lead David Schneider
Ocean Archive Michal Kučerák, Petra Linhartova
Ocean Fellowship Mentors 2021 Rosalyn D’Mello, Cécile Hummel
Ocean Fellows 2021Chahinez Bouguerche, Johanna Breiding & Shoghig Halajian, Calypso 36o21, Nadia Christidi, Abiba Coulibaly, Ella Navot
Graphic Design Ana Domínguez studio, Juan Areizaga
Communication Sam Barlien, Arianna Ferraretto, Sara Mattiazzi, Katarina Rakušček
Media Relations Scott & Co, Casadorofungher
Copy Editing Orit Gat
© Taloi Havini 2015