IOU Sound Wave Collider and Jason Singh
6 July 2025
In collaboration to premier ‘Mother of the Sea’ soundscape at Flashes Festival of Nature
Flashes Festival of Nature, WN7 3PA
Event information
Flashes Festival of Nature, WN7 3PA
FREE
Commissioned by Wigan Council
“We are thrilled to premiere the Mother of the Sea soundscape with Sound Wave Collider at the Flashes Festival of Nature at Pennington Flash. This commission perfectly embodies our commitment to celebrating both our local heritage and our global connections. Dr Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker’s scientific legacy demonstrates how innovation born in our borough can have worldwide impact, while Pennington Flash shows how we can honour our industrial past while creating vibrant spaces for nature and culture to flourish. Jason Singh’s soundscape brings these themes together in a truly unique way that will resonate with audiences both locally and internationally.”
IOU and Jason Singh collaborate again at Flashes Festival of Nature to premiere Mother of the Sea, a new soundscape experienced through IOU’s multi-sensory, sculptural sound installation Sound Wave Collider, at the Flashes Festival of Nature this July.
The innovative work celebrates the life and scientific contributions of Leigh-born botanist Dr Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker, whose research advanced understanding of the propagation of seaweed and rejuvenated the Japanese Nori industry, earning her posthumous recognition and reverence in Japanese culture.
Mother of the Sea pays tribute to Dr Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker’s pioneering research that not only advanced botanical science but also unknowingly forged lasting cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Japan.
Commissioned by Wigan Council and Turnpike Gallery, the Mother of the Sea soundscape creates a unique cultural bridge between Leigh and Uto, Kumamoto, Japan, where Dr Drew-Baker is honoured annually through a Shinto ceremony at the Sumiyoshi shrine.
This free sound installation invites visitors to move around and experience the sounds of the ceremony and the atmosphere of the Shrine. A moment to reflect on the spirit of positive collaboration; between science and industry, between two distant nations and between humankind and nature.
Mother of the Sea is generously supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, reflecting the project’s commitment to strengthening UK-Japan cultural relations.
This April, Jason Singh travelled to Uto where he visited the Sumiyoshi Shrine and attended the Shinto ceremony where Kathleen is celebrated as ‘Mother of the Sea’. He met with the local mayor, representatives of the Nori fisheries and Mr Yamamoto San, the 85 year old scientist who continues the legacy of Dr Drew, propagating Nori on oyster shells.
The project highlights how scientific discovery can transcend borders and create unexpected cultural connections, celebrating both Dr Drew-Baker’s scientific achievements and the enduring relationship between British and Japanese communities.
Credits:
Soundscape recorded, arranged, mixed and produced: Jason Singh
Voice over: Shamshad Khan, poet and resilience and success coach
Introduction recording and offline edit: Ricardo Vilela at Sagitta Media
Commissioners: Commissioned by Wigan Council and the Turnpike Gallery with generous support from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
Sound Wave Collider: Produced and created by IOU and artist David Wheeler. Originally commissioned as Speaking Tubes by Junction 2021.