The commission

In a village in Dorset, England, bell ringers and local residents commission artists to revive the art of the bell.
Over the centuries, the rhythm of the bells has traditionally set the tone for English rural life, anchoring its landscape and defining its identity. Bell ringers want to encourage young people to take a greater interest in the art of bell ringing so that this tangible and intangible heritage is not lost. artconnexion suggested artist David Ward and composer Orlando Gough for the commission.

The artwork

The various phases of the research provided an opportunity to observe the Dorset landscape through different churches, steeples and bells... Orlando Gough experimented with traditional bellmaking methodologies with the commissioners to explore possible contemporary compositions. David Ward was inspired by visits to century-old foundries for a new series of photographs.

In 2020, the pandemic struck, leading to the closure of churches. Beyond the silence of the bells, the project had to be suspended for over two years. In anticipation of the new phase of the project with the bell ringers at St Paul's Cathedral in London, the artist's book A Sculpture That Sings: The Art of the Bell includes a text by Orlando Gough on the history, traditions and practices of bell ringers around the world, as well as photographs and writings by David Ward.

The artists

David Ward is a British artist born in 1951. He works in several media such as painting, photography, performance and sound. He has a history of collaborating with choreographers and composers in his practice. His work can be found in public spaces and in major British collections.

Orlando Gough, born in 1953 in Brighton, is a composer mainly for the performing arts (opera, dance, theatre...). He also directs The Shout, a choir of diverse soloists and devises and directs large-scale site-specific choral pieces.