Hydrophonia by Slavek Kwi

H Y D R O P H O N I A
Experimental and ever-evolving framework exploring “underwater acoustics” centered around concept of “listening” with emphasis on non-verbal experience. Multi-perspectivity approach.
Designed by Slavek Kwi, 2024-25.

After feedback and observations from last workshops (*) the framework evolved, here is momentary basic set-up and structure:

(*) one with staff of The Arts Council of Ireland in Dublin - on occasion of Creative February celebrations by Creative Schools and other
2 workshops with Creative Clusters with large groups of 9-10 year old students from 4 Ennis Primary Schools.

UPDATED VERSION:

Set-up:
Large space (as the hall) is required, divided in 3 areas - “stations”:
Station 1 is the main area welcomes everyone and it is basically starting point. Imagine it as sort of Mother-ship or Submarine, full of young adventurers gathering and processing the information, either as education (inter-learning process), communication of experiences from “field trips” or as absorbed as abstract emotional experience. Here students are creating visual art based work(s) inspired by sub-aquatic realm. Information, technical support and stimulation is provided by teachers, staff and facilitator (Slavek). Ideally, students would create individual underwater “creatures”, cut those out with scissors and place them in “environment”, created on very large surface (paper?) collectively. Quiet environment is important for listening, everyone is encouraged to be as silent as is possible - within the reason of excitement tolerance, of course.

Simultaneously small groups (maximum of 5) are venturing for “field trips” = exploratory expeditions (and then going back to ship to “report” the experience and continue to work on visuals):

Station 2 - exploring small sounds under sound-microscope under guidance: Put chalk in the water, wait until it sinks on its own, it doesn't need extra pushing. Adjust volume with buttons as needed for your headphone - check which one is yours. You might need to adjust multiple times. Do not touch buttons with wet fingers! Do not pull cables of headphones, be careful. You may use provided tubing to bubble, blowing in gently. After using pipes, clean them with water.

Station 3 - exploring underwater acoustics with hand-manipulated sound objects under guidance: Choose objects you would like to try how it sounds underwater, what is the difference of acoustical properties in the air and underwater? Submerge objects, tap gently - explore. However, as container is plastic, it is better to not touch the box, hydrophone and its cable! Do not lean on edges of box, do not splash water out and do not throw objects in the water. Listen to echoes of your sounds from speakers.

Download pdf with self-explanatory imagery, please. Paintings were made by pupils from Ennis NS.

Listen electroacoustic compositions based on sounds of dolphins:
https://artificialmemorytrace.bandcamp.com/album/delphinus-delphis
and
https://artificialmemorytrace.bandcamp.com/album/boto-encantado
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VERSION ONE - FOR ADULTS:

Instructions:
Listen all sounds surrounding you, please. Do not talk, please.
During activities there will be playing gentle soundtrack from portable speaker (1st part: underwater sounds of river-dolphins, cat-fish and insect from Amazon. 2nd part: crackly sounds of crustaceans from Tasmania) in tandem with all other sounds generated by participants. You may consider whole sound-environment as single “composition” - symphony - sound organism, where everyone is welcome to contribute equally. Sonic ecology. Society of sounds. You are part of it :-)

Station 1+2:
Entry point - Station1, then choose where you wish to spend more time, please, in INFORMATION Station 1 or more ABSTRACT Station 4.

Station 1: Information. Data.
Research, please, underwater acoustics and sound-ecology, examples of wildlife depending on sound communication, photosynthesis of sub-aquatic plants etc. Follow your curiosity and directions where it will take you, please. You may use A.I. (ChatGBT) and any other ways of collecting data. Results email it here, please, if possible: freesoundssanctuary@gmail.com Note, please, your contact will be deleted, this is anonymous survey. You may also use paper provided and take notes or make drawings.

Simultaneously, you may listen electromagnetic field (EMF) of your phone via special detector. You may research EMF, if interested.
+
Station 4: Evaluation. Reflection. Memory.
Note whatever is worthwhile to remember from all information and experience today, please. Use only hand writing, please. You may also use non-verbal or abstract drawing. Equally anonymous. Listen to the soundscape evolving in the room, please. Draw. Draw whatever passes across your mind, please.
- - - - -
Station 2: Listening with headphones
Select pair of headphones and verify first which button is controlling volume of your headphones, please. Make sure cables are not tangled. Place headphones on your ears.Take one chalk and drop it gently in aquarium. While chalk is floating, it creates rather loud hissing sound, adjust your volume as it is comfortable for you. When chalk sinks, it will be releasing air - sometimes even whistling - less noisy, you will need to raise volume of your headphones to listen in more detail. Listen intently changes in micro bubbling sounds, how patterns of micro-bubbles are evolving. Additionally, you may use provided tubing to create bubbles while blowing into water.
Experiment, please. After using pipe, clean it and place it back, please.

Station 3: Exploring underwater via playing
Select 1 or more objects which you would like to experiment with underwater. Listen for acoustic properties of objects, try out, first out of water - then floating on the surface (you may place marble inside and move it around vessel, add a little bit of water) - then make it submerged completely. Use beaters provided to create percussive sounds, gently. When finished, take it out of water-tank and put it back, please. Sounds are amplified with hydrophone and diffused from speakers with echo effect. Echo is being added to help you to hear what you are actually doing. Be playful. If you wish :-)

Follow provided itinerary when changing Stations, please.

A space dedicated to voices of everyone, especially children. Anonymous, if you wish. Credited if you wish. Drum telegrams. Alien interceptions. Humans. Insects.
Every1 is welcome equally!

soundctuary
alfa00
uni.Sol_
p(art)y Here and Now