“River Listening”


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Title:


    River Listening

Artist(s) and People Involved:


Symposium:


Artist Statement:


    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.

    For ISEA2024, the River Listening team will provide a guided dusk kayak tours of the Brisbane River with a live mix of the soundscapes beneath the surface. Additionally, the team are launching a new mobile app that will feature a live generative
    sound mix of the Brisbane River for the duration of ISEA2024. The live soundscapes will be accessible via a mobile app and guided interactive tours where audiences will learn about the art and science of listening to rivers while immersed in the
    soundscapes beneath the surface. The mobile app will include geolocated points and will focus around connecting ISEA venues along the Brisbane River. For ISEA204, these interactive experiences draw on a database of recordings from the Brisbane River over the last 10 years, along with live hydrophones during ISEA mixing into a generative sound environment immersing listeners beneath the surface.

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