threshold2 (2004)

The Windmills of Innerleithen.

Following on from threshold1, we sought an opportunity to delve further into the question of how audiences might engage with spaces, both internal and external. We set ourselves the challenge of exploring how a rural community might engage with a remote windfarm site in the Scottish Borders. We chose as our setting the small rural town of Innerleithen, situated close to a large windfarm.

One of the critical issues for us was to find a way in which ordinary local residents might be drawn in to the intensely powerful experience of actually being among the turbines on a windfarm. We chose to rent an empty shop on Innerleithen high street for one week, converting the inside to an immersive cinematic environment, with looped, multi-channel projections on 3 walls and surround sound. In the films we created, we attempted to capture the experience of travelling to and being among the wind turbines of Bowbeat windfarm. These were shown all day every day for 7 days, with the artists taking the role of shopkeepers. Comments from local people can be seen here.

The Windmills of Innerleithen subsequently toured as part of Drift, an international touring exhibition of sound and video art. It was also featured in the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2004.

Directed by Richard Ashrowan, Alexander Hamilton and Shannon Tofts. Recipients of RIAS Millennium Award for Innovation in Contemporary Art. Further details, previews, critical analysis and visitor reactions can be found at www.windmills-of-innerleithen.co.uk.