In Those Days / Community
Creative works

In Those Days / Community

Electroacosutic composition from sound recordings inspired by the activities and objects in Baker’s photographs

This work is a homage to Britain’s urban landscapes, human resilience, poverty and childhood inspired by the pioneering female street photographer Shirley Baker. The photograph’s I have chosen to take inspiration from are Baker’s depictions of the urban clearance programmes of Hulme, Manchester, between 1961 – 1981.1 "Whole streets were disappearing and I hoped to capture some trace of the everyday life of people who lived there," Baker said. Despite being based on local memories, this piece testifies to the poverty and resilience of all communities that have been under siege due to changing cityscapes.
This composition is made up from sound recordings inspired by the activities and objects that are taking place in Baker's photographs, field recordings from Hulme today and archived recordings from the British Library of Shirley Baker and other Hulme residents in interview