Blue Futures

Blue Futures on display from 20 July until 3 December 2023 explored our relationship with water and the coast in South Tyneside.

The exhibition was inspired by challenges around climate change and the natural environment. It brought together three projects – BE THE SEA, Renewable Blue, and Sound Dig. Artists worked with engineers, environmental teams, former miners, residents and young people to explore our past, present and future relationship with our marine environment and waterways.

BE THE SEA – Created by artist Louise Mackenzie and composer Hayley Jenkins

This immersive sound installation explored our connection to wildlife and the ocean through sound and listening. Visitors could listen to sounds of sea creatures interacting with their environment and imagine living in the sea, waterways and rockpools, they could also create their own soundscape.

Renewable Blue – Created by artist Paul Dolan

Renewable Blue considered how heat connects people, technology and nature. Paul’s project used infrared camera equipment that captured heat rather than visible light to go beyond the limits of human senses to better understand the climate crisis.

As part of the installation, visitors could take a postcard and touch to reveal an image – the postcards used black thermochromic paint to hide parts of the image until they were touched or exposed to heat.

Sound Dig – Created by Shelly Knotts, Prof. Caroline Mitchell and Robin Daniels

In this installation visitors could explore sound from the past, present and future of Whitburn and discover whether we can hear through time. The project was developed working with residents in Whitburn.

Visitors could listen to sounds collected as part of the Whitburn Sound Dig, take a look at 3D scanned artefacts from the Whitburn Community Archaeology Dig, create new sound mixes of the village, as well as listen to soundscapes created by young people from Whitburn Church of England Academy inspired by the sounds and stories of Whitburn.

The space also included graphics from Zoë Allen which asked questions around our perception of sound, water and energy.

Blue Futures was a collaboration between South Tyneside Council, CoLab Sunderland, University of Sunderland, and SeaScapes, a Tyne to Tees project aimed at better-connecting communities with the ocean. Curated by Dr Suzy O’Hara, Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, University of Sunderland.

With support from South Tyneside Council’s energy network scheme and the regional Stronger Shores project team.

The installation connected to the Year of the Coast 2023.