Nottingham faith groups answer James Webb's Prayer call

Nottingham's faith community have answered an artist's call to record their prayers.

The prayers of 46 groups, including Sunni Muslims, Orthodox Jews, Brahma Kumaris and Humanists have now been turned into an audio installation.

Media artist James Webb said he wanted to create what it would sound like to listen to all the prayers coming out of the city at one time in one place.

'Prayer' is on at the Djanogly Art Gallery until Sunday, 8 August 2010.

Minimalist installation

The audio installation is situated in a room accessed through sound-proofed curtains. The four surrounding walls are bare. On the floor is a red carpet with 12 black speakers. It is the only thing in the space.

It is a very visually minimalist installation. The carpet acts in the same way as a plinth would to present the speakers that are broadcasting the recordings.

James Webb explained: "By walking onto the carpet you are walking on to the artistic space. There is a transformation of space just by that action."

The media artist explained that there are two ways of experiencing the work.

"One would be to listen to the entire work as an orchestral piece where you are listening to all the voices at once. You will do this by wandering through the installation, the floor-based speakers.

"The second way would be to kneel down next to one of the speakers and to listen to that individual voice.

"This would be like wandering through an orchestra and sitting down next to the cello to listen to what the cellist is playing.

"The physical act involved is a reference to supplication or genuflection where the audience have to kneel down and meet that person praying on their knees," he added.

When you enter the exhibition space it sounds like you are entering a gathering. At any one time there are six prayers being broadcast at once.

Mr Webb said that it was up to the audience to decide whether prayer is being questioned or celebrated in the room.

"I believe I have created an image that people will react to depending on their own religious and philosophical beliefs.

I hope people share an intimate moment with these voices James Webb, media artist

However, he does hope people take the time to listen and "share an intimate moment with these voices."

Higher intelligence

The media artist's project was originally inspired by a story about a group of scientists who sent a pod into space containing information about human civilisation.

The idea was that if a higher intelligence discovered the pod they would be able to find out about the earth.

Mr Webb said: "This got me thinking as to what it might be like for a higher intelligence to listen to all the prayers that will be coming out of a city or the world at any one time."

It led to the South African's first Prayer project in his home town of Cape Town in 2002. He now plans to record prayers in cities all over the world.

James Webb's exhibition Prayer is on at the Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham, from Saturday, 26 June to Sunday, 8 August 2010. Entry is free.