The Blast

Presented at CHAT Conference, York University 18th Nov 2012

This ten minute film is an enquiry into the process and interpretation of industrial decomposition. It explores the evolution of a unique “alien” habitat that does not occur anywhere else in Britain. A rare community of plants and animals depend on this sensitive Magnesian limestone based ecosystem.

“The Blast” is a work in progress documenting a chemical beach used as a dumping ground for the waste from the four collieries in the town of Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham. My interest was ignited on finding that it was used as a location for the penal colony of the Hollywood film “Alien 3” suggesting a sense of otherliness.

It is now a regenerated wildscape with distinctive features and a rich history. I have captured footage from this region. The sound track is composed from the environmental data of the field recordings using specialised recording techniques including geophonic hydrophonic, airborne and structural recordings. Su Gent was the editor of the film.