Gabrielle Hoad

The interior of a high-ceilinged rectangular room with windows on three sides.  In the foreground is a large, circular floor-based sculpture made of plywood. Cloud-like forms hang above it.

Clouded Border | 2022 | Site-specific installation

Clouded Border drew inspiration from Durlston Castle's history as a lookout and signalling station. Named after a variety of night-flying moth, this site-responsive installation also referenced an innovative radio-based navigation system developed and deployed at Durlston during World War II. Known as Oboe, it allowed RAF bombers to precisely locate targets in Nazi-occupied Europe - at night or in heavy cloud or smog.

A two-week exhibition in the Belvedere culminated in the presentation of a new sound and text work, combining Morse code signals with recordings from oboist Paul Sartin. These were broadcast to the surrounding sea, sky and countryside through the Belvedere's open windows. An artists' publication also accompanied the exhibition.

Clouded Border: laser-cut plywood and paint, woven polypropylene and wire, digital screen mounted on cut log, felt, plastic film, window cleaner, A3 (folded to A6) publication, two digital videos with sound (looped, 7 minutes), sound and text (10 minutes).

Clouded Border was created with Megan Calver. Supported by Dorset Council and the Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust. Music by Paul Sartin with contributions from Kai Wilks. Technical consultant: Tim King.