PAF003Susan Philipsz, We’ll All Go Together, 2009

Susan Philipsz uses her voice and the sculptural elements of sound and song to create a sense of intimacy in public spaces. Often using her own singing voice in her works, she brings sound into space to heighten the viewer's awareness of their surroundings and sense of self. Philipsz uses songs as found objects, and her selections span a wide range of sources and references, from traditional folk songs and labor anthems to popular music. While each piece is unique, the storylines and references are often recognizable, exploring familiar themes of loss, longing, hope, and return. They are frequently songs sung in the first person, and Philipsz sings unaccompanied, her voice unaltered and unproduced, evoking the fragile intimacy of a lullaby. Her raw voice brings a singular, emotionally charged experience to the location, creating the feeling of a private moment in public space.

In We’ll All Go Together, Philipsz sings the 18th Century American folk hymn “Am I Born to Die.” The song describes a state between life and death, contemplating the possibility of a life after death but not being sure. Philipsz has sung the song in a round with one voice following the other, which suggests a cycle of life, death and rebirth. Played across multiple speakers hiding in the trees, the song's refrains ebb and flow like a chorus from the past, echoing through the forest. As the seasons change, so will the context of the installation, becoming a meditation on our own transient existence against the backdrop of the vastness of time and nature. This installation is not just to be heard, but to be felt, an invitation to reflect on our shared human experience and the landscapes that shape us.