Calypso's Dream by Manja Ristić & Mark Vernon

"Cruel folk you are, unmatched for jealousy, you gods who cannot bear to let a goddess sleep with a man." (Calypso to Hermes, who has just ordered her to release Odysseus. Homer, Odyssey 5.120)



Calypso’s Dream is a soundscape collection sculpted from the subtle sonic morphologies of the micro-environments on the island of Mljet in the South Adriatic. The collection serves as a conceptual counterpoint to Homer’s Odyssey and a critical reflection on commercial island attractions such as Odysseus’s Cave, where he was supposedly held captive for seven long years by the nymph Calypso.

In search of a different gender approach to the ancient Greek myth and its contemporary commercial appropriation, we created a simple narrative from Calypso’s perspective, inspired by the work of the renowned writer Margaret Atwood, who wrote The Penelopiad, and tried to unravel the archetypal mystery by narrating the Odyssey from the perspective of his wife Penelope, who was left for 20 years to defend the kingdom and raise their children.

Calypso’s Dream is an attempt to create a symbolic micro-episode of The Penelopiad within the medium of sound art, woven from the dense spectrum of the island’s biophony, instrumental and improvised narratives, critically reflecting on the commercial appropriation of culture, advocating for the importance of a listening culture, and emphasizing the urgency of raising ecological awareness.

The island of Mljet is one of the oldest European protected natural zones, still, there is so much more that can be done to keep this Adriatic marvel away from harsh trends of mass tourism.


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The release includes a PDF booklet containing curatorial text and images of Mljet's many aquatic micro-environments, flora, and fauna.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, and the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Department for Education and Culture.

Born in Belgrade 1979. Violinist, sound artist, curator and researcher mostly active in the field of electro-acoustics, instrumental improvisation & experimental sound related arts. Graduated at the Belgrade Music Academy, then gained PGDip at the Royal College of Music, London.

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