Johanna Billing

This is How We Walk on the Moon, 2007 HD 27'20'' loop

This Is How We Walk on the Moon

Set on the Firth of Forth with its iconic bridges this film centres on the contradiction of Edinburgh's proximity to the North Sea and apparent disconnection of the majority of the population to it. Handheld cameras document a group local musicians and novis sailors on their first sailing trip. Events unroll from the preparations on land to instructor’s calm directions, through to the journey under the Firth of Forth Rail Bridge, the students' first awkward steps in unknown territory. Adopting a somewhat pedagogical structure with hand written chapter marks - which take the form of graphic diagrams simplifying the complex procedures, from wind movement to the art of tacking the poetic-documentary-fictional atmosphere of the adventure is highlighted. The commensurate soundtrack takes as it’s starting point a song from the 1980's by experimental New York-based musician Arthur Russell, "This is How We Walk On the Moon,", in various improvisations and interpretations using voice and string instruments.

This is How We Walk on the Moon, 2007 HD 27'20'' loop

A film by Johanna Billing. Cinematography by Manne Lindwall & Johanna Billing. Sound by Pia Patté. Featuring: Johnny Lynch, Emily Roff, Joe Collier, Jenny Gordon and Guthrie Stewart. Musical Soundtrack arranged by Johanna Billing and performed by Johnny Lynch, vocals, Karl-Jonas Winqvist, vocals, Sara Wilson, vocals, Andreas Söderström, guitar and melodica, Christian Hörgren, cello, Henry Moore Selder, guitar and bass, Tuomas Hakava, guitar and organ, recorded by Tuomas Hakava in Up and Running Studio 2007, except for the opening song “The Western”, written and performed by Woo (Independent Project Records 1989) Original version of “This Is How We Walk On The Moon” written by Arthur Russell (Point Music/Orange Mountain Music, 1984) Soundtrack mixed and mastered by Joachim Ekermann, Make Wave. Title cards design by Åbäke. Recorded on the Firth of Forth and at Port Edgar Marina, South Queensferry, Edinburgh

Co-Produced by the Collective Gallery’s One Mile programme, lead artist Kate Gray, Co-ordinators Kate Stancliffe and Siobhan Carroll, Production assistant Jill Brown, with support from the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Fund and The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and by Documenta 12 with support from IASPIS, International Artist Studio Program in Sweden. Special thanks: Karl-Jonas Winqvist, Andreas Berthling, Henry Moore Selder, Jan Billing, Guthrie Stewart, Kate Gray, Kajsa Ståhl and Maki Suzuki