Bringing the Oceans to Life: Raising Awareness of the Ecology of Underwater Soundscapes Through Acoustic Immersion and Musical Creation

Abstract

What capability does listening hold for renewing the way we inhabit the world, and particularly the oceans? Through the transdisciplinary research-creation project (S)e(a)scape, we seek to give to ear underwater soundscapes by revealing their richness and the technophonic pollutions that invades them. Through the creation of a spatialized concert, we concretely question and analyse the affects that listening to this recomposed sonic reality can evoke: wonder, concern, desire for engagement... By bringing together musical and sound creation, underwater acoustics, ecology, and pedagogy, (S)e(a)scape aims to make feel the sea through an immersive aesthetic that engages the body, the emotions, and the imagination. The project takes the form of a immersive multimedia concert where in situ recordings, musical compositions, and visual elements (frescoes, projections, and lighting design) meet. Our reflection draws inspiration from a sound ecosophy that views listening as an ethical and relational act, capable of weaving connections between humans and non-humans. Intended for a wide audience, the project seeks to open a space for dialogue and awareness. It is part of a movement toward sensitive and experiential ecological education, at the intersection of research and creation.