Leah Barclay. Juried Artist
http://www.riverlistening.com.au/isea2024.html
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.
About the artists
Leah Barclay is a sound artist, designer and researcher who works at the intersection of art, science and technology. Leah’s research and creative work over the last decade has investigated innovative approaches to recording and disseminating the soundscapes of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to inform conservation, scientific research and public engagement. Her work explores ways we can use creativity, new technologies and emerging science to reconnect communities to the environment and inspire climate action. Leah has been the recipient of numerous awards and her work has been commissioned, performed and exhibited to wide acclaim internationally by organisations including the Smithsonian Museum, UNESCO, Ear to the Earth, Streaming Museum, Al Gore’s Climate Reality and the IUCN. Leah’s augmented reality sound installations have been presented across the world from Times Square in New York City to the Eiffel Tower in Paris for COP21. Leah leads several research projects including Biosphere Soundscapes and River Listening that focus on advancing the field of ecoacoustics. The design of these interdisciplinary projects are responsive to the needs of collaborating communities and involve the development of new technologies including remote sensing devices for the rainforest canopy and hydrophone recording arrays in aquatic ecosystems.
Dr Toby Gifford is a designer, creative coder, and interdisciplinary media arts practitioner, with a particular interest in virtual/augmented reality and immersive installation. He has worked across industry and academia at the intersection of art and technology, with extensive professional experience in software programming and systems design. His research spans a broad range of areas including: application of artificial intelligence to the creative industries; environmental sensing for ecosystem health monitoring; and modelling and data visualisation to aid design.
Credits: Leah Barclay, Toby Gifford