Fine Art Graduate Creates ‘Dream’ Project after Sleep Study Mishap

A mishap whilst taking part in a sleep study has allowed a Fine Art and Illustration graduate to create a literal dream project.

Helen Dearnley, who graduated from the University of Lincoln, UK, in 2008, was taking part in a study at the Lincoln Sleep Research Centre during which her sleeping brain waves were wrongly turned into sound waves.

The result is a pioneering experimental sound art project titled Lost Dreams, which Helen states represents her ‘period of economic exile and all past projects that were rejected, unrealized, and unfunded during austerity’.

Lost Dreams originally comprised six music tracks – Dreamfall, The Europan Ambassador, Dreamwalker, The Crystal Cathedral, Starlit Quorus, and Hlör U Fang Axaxaxas Mlö.

Helen was then able to produce two further tracks, Elvis Clones and The Blackbird of Chernobyl, thanks to support from a Business Revival Grant from City of Lincoln Council, with the tracks sampled from an online tape archive, along with conceptual video art for the original sound art, and both new tracks.

Speaking about Lost Dreams, Helen said: “I’m now aiming to exhibit the project at a gallery or festival, such as Gravity Fields Festival, to be acknowledged, recognised and valued where science, technology, arts and music STEAM innovations follow on from Lincolnshire legend Sir Isaac Newton. I’m also looking to follow the words of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, Professor Neal Juster; and, also pushing for all fellow #ExcludedUK arts and humanities graduates to be funded and paid properly.”

Lost Dreams is available to listen to on Soundcloud, and more information about Helen and her work can be found at: https://helendblackbird.wixsite.com/helendearnley/.