One of my favourite artworks at Edinburgh Art Festival 2021 is Emeka Ogboh’s Song of the Union at the Burns Monument. Newly commissioned for the festival, this seven-channel sound installation is a response to Brexit.
Berlin-based artist Emeka Ogboh was born in Nigeria in 1977. He makes artworks in a variety of media, typically multi-sensory or soundworks. They draw interesting connections between our senses and a specific location. This can engage both the personal and political concerns and character of a place.
Song of the Union
On 29th January 2020, MEPs voted on the final withdrawal agreement at the European Parliament. They then held hands and sang Auld Lang Syne. Emeka took creative inspiration from this symbolic moment of heightened emotion.
Emeka Ogboh recorded the voices of Scottish citizens from each nation-state of the European Union. Each sang Auld Lang Syne in their native language. Many are EU citizens living in the UK, unable to vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum. They did not have a say. Their voices were silenced on the day that the UK majority vote was to leave the EU.
It’s a tricky feat to bring together different languages to create a unified choir sound. The words, rhythm and cadence are all so diverse. But they come together as one. This is so impressive and hugely symbolic. There are 27 voices (plus one singing in English from the UK). The artist used an algorithm that controls the complex order and density of the voices.
why use the Burns monument?
Auld Lang Syne is a traditional and anonymous tune. The words as we know them today are attributed to Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns (1759-96). It is a song known internationally to represent solidarity. So, it makes sense to site it inside the Burns Monument on Regent Road Edinburgh. Scotland, as a nation, voted against Brexit.
It is a song that reminisces about the separation of friends, a parting of ways and the sentiment that old friendships will never be forgotten and the hope to reunite in the future.
The monument is situated between the Old Royal High School, built by the same architect in Greek Revival style Thomas Hamilton (1784-1858). It was built in 1831 to commemorate Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. This building was proposed as the seat of the Scottish Assembly when devolution was first voted on in 1979. It also overlooks the newer Scottish Parliament building at the foot of the Royal Mile in Holyrood. The artwork explores an idea that Brexit is part of an ongoing, looping story of people and politics. The story isn’t over or conclusive.
-photo ©Artravelist
Emeka’s recorded voices play in unison on a loop within the interior of the Burns Monument, a perfectly circular structure that offers up the most amazing acoustics. Experience this polyphonic choir through several speakers in surround sound. Listen to the voices sing in unison, each in their own language. It’s as if a ghostly choir had been conjured up by Rabbie Burns himself. Like ghosts, the voices carry on the wind. You may also notice an occasional lone voice picked out from the ensemble.
Burns Monument interior
This is a rare opportunity to get inside the Burns Monument. It’s not typically open to the public. This is the first time I’ve had access to the interior of the monument and was very excited to see how it has weathered. It was renovated in 2009. Its location is a blustery bend in Regent Road. I always pull my jacket around me a little tighter around here, on walks to and from the city centre but it’s a spectacular spot to visit.
The interior is lined with Doric columns and a tesserae tiled floor. There’s a whole wabi-sabi thing going on inside which I kind of love. It’s like an old teddy bear with a replacement eye, some darned spots here and there, in a not-quite-the-same colour as the original fur. The monument was restored in 2009.
-photo ©Artravelist
Burns Monument exterior
If you venture around the back of the entrance near the road there is a surprise waiting for you. There is also a Scots Gaelic version of the song played from the exterior of the monument, go around and you’ll hear the lone voice of Tawana Maramba singing Auld Lang Syne.
-photo ©Artravelist
Spending some time with this work in a familiar location encouraged a deeper awareness of the environmental sounds around here. Sounds that get noisier and more vibrant the longer you pay attention to them.
