UK, 2020
19 minutes, 40 seconds, B&W/colour, Stereo, 16:9
Original format: 2K Video
‘A So Called Archive’ is an experimental short film written and produced by Phd Student Onyeka Igwe. Aimed at revealing the historical neglect Commonwealth countries such as Nigeria have experienced since the British Empire. The name is all too fitting for these ‘archives’, supposedly containing a mass of well stored colonial history. However Igwe captures the internal rot and decay of these buildings and establishments. Archival footage lost, reel to reel’s spew intestine like tape all over the floor, now moth eaten and dead. She even suggests that a lot of the archive has been purposely destroyed, which makes sense considering the crimes against humanity overseen by the British Empire.
Igwe contrasts these opening shots of the archives with Commonwealth FM Radio Broadcasts. Lies upon lies roll from the tongue of the presenters, stating to listeners about the wealth of information stored in the archives, yet Igwe cleverly overlaps the audio with decrepit imagery, alternating between the cities of Bristol and Lagos.
From the perspective of a Sound Artist, Igwe’s film comes across as a form of audio paper. She ticks multiple boxes if we refer to the Audio Paper Manifesto. For example her film clearly affirms performative aesthetics by bridging a diverse knowledge with art film aesthetics. I would argue that although this bridge is clearly made, Igwe intentionally attempts to confuse the audience rather than offer a standard coherent piece. A potential reflection of her own clouded investigation into the subject, as I’m sure the foundation of her research stemmed from confusion; why are these places like this? Why does nobody know? Where have documents and footage gone?
Another point I would like to make is the decision for showing the film in Dartmouth Park Hill. Although this may have been out of necessity rather than a contextual nod, I find it interesting to contrast the natural, extremely well preserved greenery of the park with the archives. Parks are natural archives, they preserve and categories flowers, trees, birds etc. Most likely unintentional but still an interesting point to make, Igwe thrusts ‘A So Called Archive’ into a well maintained natural space or archive, but implores us to look deeper into the mouldy earth and diseased roots.