Emma Denby

SIRENS

ARTIST COMMISSION

Emerging from the earth and forming the configuration of the Pleiades (The 7 Sisters) constellation, Sirens invites you to walk amongst the circle of stones and experience the transcendental voices of Amies Freedom Choir. Moving through the stones, your close presence is echoed by a melodious response, flowing your encounter onto another… and another to stop, listen and hear their captivating voices.

Working with Liminal Creative and commissioned by Freedom Festival, Hull, Sirens tells a tale illustrating human trafficking by a choir of women who are all survivors of this adversity. With the central stone bearing 2,060 dots, marking it with the statistic of known cases for women trafficked per week (in 2021), it highlighted the vast number of women effected internationally by human trafficking.

As part of the project, a series of podcasts were also created with guest speakers talking in reference to the themes and ideas behind Sirens. Including the meaning of the title and the mythology which influenced it, the podcasts explore the stories and depictions of women throughout history.