Sounding Lines echoes how we humans shaped the North Sea seabed over the last 200 years. In the 1800s, we fished away most of the oyster beds. We drilled for oil and gas in the 20th century. In the coming decades hundreds of offshore windmills and a vast submarine electricity grid will be built. Geopolitical strategies, climate action, and economic hopes all come together in this story, showing how connected we are to the sea, and how we have made it a very human space.
Stijn Demeulenaere has recorded the sounds of offshore wind farms and some of the last remaining wild oyster reefs in the North Sea. At the same time, he had a local choir sing forgotten sea shanties and infuse the underwater sounds with these traditional stories, mixing several voices of the sea into a surround composition.
At Ars Electronica, Sounding Lines becomes a site-specific immersive experience. Audience members put on a wading suit and walk into the Donau, listening to a space of possible pasts and futures.
Online registration required: Select your preferred date from the table below and click on the time to register for the experience.
| WED 3 Sept. | 12:00 – 12:45 |
| WED 3 Sept. | 13:30 – 14:15 |
| WED 3 Sept. | 15:00 – 15:45 |
| THU 4 Sept. | 12:00 – 12:45 |
| THU 4 Sept. | 13:30 – 14:15 |
| THU 4 Sept. | 15:00 – 15:45 |
| FRI 5 Sept. | 12:00 – 12:45 |
| FRI 5 Sept. | 13:30 – 14:15 |
| FRI 5 Sept. | 15:00 – 15:45 |
| SAT 6 Sept. | 12:00 – 12:45 |
| SAT 6 Sept. | 13:30 – 14:15 |
| SAT 6 Sept. | 15:00 – 15:45 |
