Tracing the Chora - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Tracing the Chora is a soundwalk through the interstices of Al Quoz conceived of and created by sound artists Fari Bradley and Chris Weaver.

This audio is designed to be heard with an added backdrop, at times very invasive, of the landscape of Al Quoz. We intend that the listener will be navigating while following instructions and taking note of landmarks and points of interest. The guiding voice neither tries to convince you it is a real character, nor sentient. You are on your own for this walk. NB - This audio will not make sense unless heard as the walk. To take the route, visit Al Serkal in Al Quoz any day aside from Fridays, between 10-6pm.

Naturally, while the walk is designed to make the most of any shade afforded any pedestrians finding their own way through the chora, it is best enjoyed when the sun is low in the sky.

The chora is an imagined space, first described by Plato as a place of potential, and later expanded on by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, as an arena from which to decipher the reality of our surroundings. The walk invites this deciphering through observing the vastly different terrains of Al Quoz, and through the experiences of those who have inhabited and observed the area as it moved through flux and fixity for many years.

The commission is an Al Serkal programming commission. Recorded in Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE with the participation of Yasser Elsheshtawy, Nadine Knotzer, Kourosh Noori, Sunny Rahbar and Ehsan Eshrof.