THE PINEAPPLE PROJECT

DESIGN

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Instrument Design

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Client - Savinder Bual & Bristol Beacon (formerly Colston Hall)

Location - Bristol

Year - 2018

Status - Ongoing

The Pineapple Project, Commissioned by Bristol Beacon (formerly Colston Hall) & supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Performed at Bristol Beacon in Bristol in November 2018

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The Pineapple Orchestra consists of 10 bow-activated string instruments. When each instrument is played a fresh pineapple top spins and its leaves pluck the strings to create sound. 

The pineapple instruments are playable by all regardless of musical background. They layout a blank canvas whereby everyone can come and enjoy a musical journey without any set rules or techniques.

The project draws a parallel with the dark colonial history of the pineapple alongside a more positive contemporary view of the fruit to explore how we can create inclusive narratives about today’s society, whilst acknowledging the past. 

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In November 2018 The Pineapple Project brought people from all over Bristol together to play the instruments. The 16 piece community orchestra co-created music with a composer over a 2 month period. This culminated in a performance at Colston Hall. Some of the players had never played an instrument before.

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Colston Hall has gone through a contentious name change, by disassociating themselves from Edward Colston. Although Colston did great things for the city he was a noted slave trader. The instruments intended to form a playful and disarming entry point into discussions around this matter and about inclusion in our current society in general.