Misfolding
An audiovisual exploration of the science of Alzheimer’s disease
‘Misfolding’ is a commissioned series of five audio-visual works that draw inspiration from scientific research to explore the biology behind Alzheimer’s disease.
The project is a collaboration between artists, researchers and faculty from the University of Sussex and the Electric Voice Theatre. The works seek to creatively communicate the highly complex biological processes that underpin Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, notes of hope are incorporated to reflect the scientific progress made, and a sense of positivity for the future.
The works, composed by Frances M Lynch, Kira Ramchaitar-Husbands, Antonia Redding and Shu Yang, were first exhibited at Pheonix Arts Space, Brighton, from April 19th – 23rd, 2023.
Women of Science & Music: 30 celebrations – Episode 22: Misfolding
Listen to Prof. Louise Serpell and Dr Karen Marshall from Serpell Lab, School of Life Sciences discussing the science and music of the Misfolding Project as part of our podcast series
“Misfolding for Dummies”
by
Frances M Lynch
For speaker and digital instruments
Performed by the composer
Film by Herbie Clarke
The piece has a comprehensive text which seeks to explain the complicated science of amyloid folding and it’s relationship to Alzheimer’s disease. The instrumental parts were created from a musical translation of the coding in the proteins as they folded or misfolded.
Although there is still a long way to go in this research there is hope for the future:
A mystery remains, but we are not blindfold
Misfolding is slowly unfolding
Surely and steadily
Step by Step
The mysterious misfolding proteins
Are giving their secrets away
We are all now too familiar with the role of VIRUSES in human diseases, and have for some time known about good & bad BACTERIA.
But how many of us know that PROTEINS are also involved in human disease?
Not the ones we eat, but the ones we make ourselves and which make our bodies function in so many ways – but when they are MISFOLDING PROTEINS….well things can go very wrong.
“Miss Amy-Lloyd Folding”
by
Frances M Lynch
For 3 solo voices
Performed by ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE SINGERS:-
Frances M Lynch – Soprano
Margaret Cameron & Samantha Houston – Mezzos
Film by Hannah Fox
She was Miss Folding all her life
The proteins in her brain
The blanket ruffled in the cot
The arms not holding her securely
Paper planes and paper games that never flew and never played
The proteins in her brain – Miss Folding
The birthday cake that did not rise
The folding seat that wouldn’t stay
The chairs and tables stacked away
The crash of wood on polished floor
The proteins in her brain – Miss Folding
The crisp pound notes misplaced
No help for rainy days
Umbrellas failed to open
The proteins in her brain – Miss Folding
The ironing board snapped shut on hands that neatly folded clothes
Which somehow came undone
Like proteins in her brain – Miss Folding
Until in later life the paper would not fit
The envelope was blocked
The letters could not sit at peace upon the page
Like proteins in her brain – Miss Folding
The napkins – try and try again –
Were never folded properly
Like deckchairs in a storm
Like proteins in her brain- Miss Folding
White sheets await a final fold
How many others led her here
To lie at peace before her time
As year on year she was Mis-Folding
Proteins in her brain
Works by Kira Ramchaitar-Husbands, Antonia Redding and Shu Yang
“In Here”
by
Kira Ramchaitar-Husbands
for sampled paper folding sounds and audio-visual electronics
“Scarbled Words”
by
Antonia Redding
for recorded soundscape (Predators as virus, birds for bacteria, mechanical sounds as proteins), my mum’s voice (she is living with dementia), my voice, paper aeroplane and Scrabble
“Misfolding Through the Looking Glass”
by
Shu Yang
biochemistry inspired soft-crafts, sound, music, and mini-performance
PROJECT LEADERS
Professor Nicholas Till – Centre for Research in Opera and Music Theatre
Frances M Lynch – Artistic Director, electric voice theatre
Professor Louise Serpell – Serpell Lab, School of Life Sciences
Dr Karen Marshall – Serpell Lab, School of Life Sciences
Workshops June 1st & 2nd 2021
