In conjunction with their artist residency at the Audio Foundation, we are happy to present I was in this long dark tunnel, a new exhibition by Mparntwe/Alice Springs-based artist, Bridget Chappell. I was in this long dark tunnel considers the opportunities for social organisation and cultural connection offered by pirate radio platforms.
I have heard there used to be hundreds; turning the dial was a walk in a dense jungle. Again, now, there is a night and day to speaking and listening. The other-places, these fulcrums for pleasure, are here, tiny beaches beneath the street. But they move around.
Wireless and lawless, mobile territories flood the FM band. Please visit this place-time where the breaks are poorly beat-matched but plentiful. It’s easy to cut em up, hard to put back together. I’ll need your help. Please take one of these Walkmans (you’ll need it) and make a tape of your trip, I would like to hear it 
Bridget describes themself as a “long time listener first time caller in Tamaki Makaurau”, hoping to “fuck around and find out how many breaks broadcasting at how many frequencies it takes to flood the bandwidth.” For this exhibition and throughout their residency, sanctioned, small-throw transmitters will be hacked, empowered, ‘upgraded’ to mid-throw.
Join us in celebrating FM dials flooded with one long continuous break, a rave that never sees dawn.
Artist biography:
Bridget Chappell (a bit from Aotearoa, a bit from so-called Australia) is an artist larping as a scientist working across dance music, contemporary cello, hacked sound technology, ungovernable space, hydrology, and literature. They DJ and produce music as Hextape, create data-informed sound installations, write poetry/essays/particular letters, organise workshops and DIY shows, and try to leave a trail of rave breadcrumbs wherever they go. Most recently their album ‘>:)’ (Powertrip, 2022) explores the musicality of MRIs and received critical acclaim.
https://www.bridgetchappell.com/
Opens: [CANCELLED] Wednesday 8 March, 5.30pm with refreshments provided by Liberty Brewing Company
Hours: 12 – 4pm, Tuesday – Saturday
Closing Event: Wednesday 5 April, 5:30pm w performance