[ISEA2009] Panel: Tapio Makela (convener) – Ecolocated: Environment, Sound and Engagement

Panel Statement

Ecolocated – Littoral Lives combines ecological marine data with locative sound in an installation at the Catalyst Arts gallery as well as on a web based interface. Part of M.A.R.I.N. residency at the Irish Sea before and after ISEA2009, Ecolocated is an exploration of littoral zones near Belfast, areas where human impact on the marine ecology is strongest, and where local communities also experience the sea. It is this juncture, an experience of the sea as a historical or romantic imaginary, an every day environment for work and leisure, and a complex ecosystem that the term littoral bridges. Our ‘field’ or rather, sea bed recordings include environmental and meteorological data, interviews with scientists and local communities and sonifications. Part of the project is shaped through local workshops exploring marine ecology in the wider context of climate change. Our work can be followed on a geo tagged blog and pod casts.

Ecolocated is a collaboration between three artists, Tapio Makela (FI), Nigel Helyer & Andreas Siagian, in collaboration with the Audio Nomad software team, Daniel Woo, and Michael Lake (AU). M.A.R.I.N. is an art and science residency initiated by Tapio Makela and Marko Peljhan (SL/LV/ US).

  • Nigel Helyer (DrSonique, AU) is a sculptor and sound-artist. He is Director of Sonic Objects;
    Sonic Architecture and Artistic Director of the AudioNomad Research Group developing
    location sensitive environmental audio at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the UNSW.
  • Andreas Siagian (ID) is a media artist from The House of Natural Fiber (HONF) – Yogyakarta, a new media art laboratory in Indonesia focusing on environmental engineering, and how to bridge arts and science with community needs.
  • Dr. Daniel Woo (AU) is responsible for HCI teaching, research and development in the School of Computer Science and Engineering, UNSW. He is the Scientific Director of the AudioNomad software. Michael Lake is Lead Developer of the AudioNomad software suite.

Full text (PDF) p. 105