Thriving on Mull #11: Radio Round & About: Barn Talk

In Search of the Pluriverse

After all these 1 on 1’s with our hosts Miek and Rutger, the neighbours, and guests Tim & Reiko, Tom and Anne it is time to listen, share and discuss in a larger local context. We invited more local voices: theater director Rebecca Atkinson-Lord (Tobermory), new generation Mull crofter Renatus Derbidge, Oban-based curator Naoko Mabon, artist Mhairi Killin (Iona) and fiddle player and researcher for South West Mull and Iona Development (SWID) Hanna Fischer. Neighbour Judy Gibson was present, Jimmy and John were too busy at their farms. We (Erik & Sophie) scripted this talk in many ways, but in the end we decided to just give the floor to the participants. We set up a circle, introduced the guests and a ‘talking stick’ and talked in two rounds: Round & About radio, based on the monthly local news magazine with the same name.

A long and horizontal talk about sourdough cultures, the (local) food economy, the big and complex question of how to thrive, the pain of ‘the 1750-1860 Highlands and Island Clearances’, the effects of tourism on the precarious housing situation and much more. And what about that swan that needed to be rescued? Sit back, go for a walk, or do the dishes and listen. This is the closest to Mull we can bring you. Special thanks to Hannah for playing the tune and Martin Low for making everyone very audible.

We were inspired and overwhelmed by Mull and everything the island contains and shared with us. This is one of 13 talks. We edited it like ‘a string of pearls’ It works best to jump from one pearl to the next, starting at the beginning… Enjoy!

For more context and information about our search for the pluriverse and the upcoming exhibition we are curating: go to pluriverse.hetnieuweinstituut.nl