River listening at Floating land 2019
Looking at the surface of a river, it is virtually impossible to detect environmental changes. The impacts of climate change are often visible in terrestrial environments, yet dramatic changes in aquatic ecosystems can go unnoticed simply due to visibility. Listening to hydrophones (underwater microphones) provides access to a non-invasive way of understanding changing aquatic ecosystems.
River Listening is an interdisciplinary project exploring the possibilities of sound in the conservation and management of global river systems. The project works at the intersection of art and science by investigating the cultural and biological diversity of freshwater ecosystems through real-time listening and underwater recording used for biodiversity monitoring and public engagement. The resulting database of hydrophone recordings is used for ongoing scientific research and diverse creative projects disseminated worldwide. The artistic outcomes from River Listening are central to our public engagement efforts and include mobile phone applications with augmented reality audio, GPS trigged soundscapes and live streaming hydrophone arrays.
The foundations of River Listening were conceived at Floating Land 2009, during Leah Barclay’s Eco Sonus project and 10 years later for Floating Land 2019 we are launching a new way to experience the soundscapes of rivers with live listening points layered with sonic art responding to the health of the river. The soundscapes will be accessed via guided interactive tours where audiences will learn about the art and science of listening to rivers while immersed in the soundscapes beneath the surface. These interactive experiences are available as kayak expeditions, interactive boat trips and sound walks along the river bank.
In addition to the tours, we are also hosting hydrophone streams from the live listening points at various times throughout Floating Land, listen live via the Locus Sonus Sound Map (click on Noosa River). follow #RiverListening on twitter for real-time updates from the field.
River Listening is an interdisciplinary project exploring the possibilities of sound in the conservation and management of global river systems. The project works at the intersection of art and science by investigating the cultural and biological diversity of freshwater ecosystems through real-time listening and underwater recording used for biodiversity monitoring and public engagement. The resulting database of hydrophone recordings is used for ongoing scientific research and diverse creative projects disseminated worldwide. The artistic outcomes from River Listening are central to our public engagement efforts and include mobile phone applications with augmented reality audio, GPS trigged soundscapes and live streaming hydrophone arrays.
The foundations of River Listening were conceived at Floating Land 2009, during Leah Barclay’s Eco Sonus project and 10 years later for Floating Land 2019 we are launching a new way to experience the soundscapes of rivers with live listening points layered with sonic art responding to the health of the river. The soundscapes will be accessed via guided interactive tours where audiences will learn about the art and science of listening to rivers while immersed in the soundscapes beneath the surface. These interactive experiences are available as kayak expeditions, interactive boat trips and sound walks along the river bank.
In addition to the tours, we are also hosting hydrophone streams from the live listening points at various times throughout Floating Land, listen live via the Locus Sonus Sound Map (click on Noosa River). follow #RiverListening on twitter for real-time updates from the field.
Booking Links
|
RIVER LISTENING SOUND WALKS:
Saturday, October 12, Boreen Point, 2:30pm-4pm, Sound Walk #1 BOOK ONLINE (sold out) Saturday, October 12, Boreen Point, 5pm-6:30pm, Sound Walk #2 BOOK ONLINE Thursday 17 October, Boreen Point, 4pm-5:30pm, Sound Walk #3, BOOK ONLINE Saturday 26 October, 4:30pm-6pm, Noosa Board Walk, Sound Walk #4 BOOK ONLINE |
RIVER LISTENING KAYAK TOURS:
Saturday 19 October, Boreen Point, 4-6pm Kayak #1 BOOK ONLINE (sold out) Sunday 20 October, Boreen Point, 10am-12pm Kayak #2 BOOK ONLINE Tuesday 22 October, Boreen Point, 4-6pm Kayak #3 BOOK ONLINE |
River Listening sound walks and kayak tours explore the river in new ways. The audience will wear wireless headphones and experience a live mix of underwater soundscapes and sonic art responding to the health of the river created by Leah Barclay. Each experience will be different and will include the voices of traditional owners, Lyndon Davis and Brent Miller from Gubbi Gubbi Dance.
Floating land: point to point
Floating Land: point to point marks the 10th iteration of one of Noosa’s most significant and iconic cultural events. Conceived in 2001 as a biennial outdoor sculptural program, Floating Land: point to point will have a presence across two key anchor sites in 2019 – Boreen Point and Noosa National Park. From the serene shores of Lake Cootharaba at Boreen Point to the rocky outcrops of Noosa National Park – and several spaces in between – visitors will be invited to experience thoughtful, challenging and environmentally aware works that engage sensitively with these special and spectacular spaces. Explore the full program at www.floatingland.org.au
River Listening background
Global freshwater ecosystems are experiencing rapid biodiversity decline resulting from changing environmental factors and human impacts. Many aquatic ecosystems still lack basic species inventories and in locations where there are current biodiversity estimates – these are only brief snapshots in time, often using varied methods and design which make future comparisons extremely difficult. Conventional environmental monitoring in freshwater ecosystems remains problematic – it is highly invasive, expensive and constrained to restricted areas and manual processing of observations by specialists.
The River Listening project was initiated in 2014 through a Synapse Residency awarded to Dr Leah Barclay and the Australian Rivers Institute. The creative foundations for River Listening emerged out of a body of Barclay’s artistic practice that spans 10 years of collaboration with river communities across the world. Eco Sonus (commissioned for Floating Land 2009) was the first project where Barclay used multi-platform methods for the local community to explore freshwater soundscapes. This included hydrophone workshops, online sound maps and immersive sound installations in the environment.
‘River Listening: From Source to Sea’ is the latest iteration of this project supported by the Australia Council for the Arts. The main intentions of this phase is to work towards a live sound map of Australian freshwater ecosystems with a network of live streaming hydrophones (underwater microphones) that will be accessible via a mobile app and website acting as a real-time acoustic observatory for experimental collaborations, public engagement and art-science research.
This next phase will work directly with remote and regional communities along the Fitzroy River (WA), the Mary River (QLD) and the Murray River (VIC / SA). The team will record and map each location and engage with diverse knowledge systems through interdisciplinary workshops exploring the soundscapes of the river from source to sea through hydrophone recordings and local soundscapes. In a world-first, the catchment-to-coast design of this project will investigate gradual changes in river soundscapes through mapping expeditions led by indigenous custodians and facilitated by artists and scientists who have pioneered the use of sound as a non-invasive tool for monitoring river health. This project brings together Indigenous knowledge, emerging science, new technology and experimental sound art to develop new ways to connect with the environment and understand the ecological changes that are taking place across the world.
The River Listening project was initiated in 2014 through a Synapse Residency awarded to Dr Leah Barclay and the Australian Rivers Institute. The creative foundations for River Listening emerged out of a body of Barclay’s artistic practice that spans 10 years of collaboration with river communities across the world. Eco Sonus (commissioned for Floating Land 2009) was the first project where Barclay used multi-platform methods for the local community to explore freshwater soundscapes. This included hydrophone workshops, online sound maps and immersive sound installations in the environment.
‘River Listening: From Source to Sea’ is the latest iteration of this project supported by the Australia Council for the Arts. The main intentions of this phase is to work towards a live sound map of Australian freshwater ecosystems with a network of live streaming hydrophones (underwater microphones) that will be accessible via a mobile app and website acting as a real-time acoustic observatory for experimental collaborations, public engagement and art-science research.
This next phase will work directly with remote and regional communities along the Fitzroy River (WA), the Mary River (QLD) and the Murray River (VIC / SA). The team will record and map each location and engage with diverse knowledge systems through interdisciplinary workshops exploring the soundscapes of the river from source to sea through hydrophone recordings and local soundscapes. In a world-first, the catchment-to-coast design of this project will investigate gradual changes in river soundscapes through mapping expeditions led by indigenous custodians and facilitated by artists and scientists who have pioneered the use of sound as a non-invasive tool for monitoring river health. This project brings together Indigenous knowledge, emerging science, new technology and experimental sound art to develop new ways to connect with the environment and understand the ecological changes that are taking place across the world.
