Inspired by Día de los Muertos (the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday), which involves gathering each November to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, shape-shifting video-mapped projections transform the façade of Durham Cathedral into an immersive reflection on the present moment. With musical contributions sourced from local residents and Durham University orchestra, the piece culminates in a glimmering moment of collective hope.

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Día de los Muertos coincides with the migration of millions of vibrant Monarch butterflies to Mexico each November, thought to represent the returning souls of the dead, drawn back to the world of the living by beacons of light. In Our Hearts Blind Hope draws on this symbolism, beginning with footage of people from the local community in Durham lighting candles in the Cathedral.

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An original soundtrack by composer and sound designer Richard Hammarton acts as the heartbeat of the piece, building from quiet contemplation to an electrifying crescendo of the natural sounds of insects buzzing and wings fluttering alongside community recordings and orchestral composition. 

The piece runs on a 12-minute loop.

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