Sculptural interactive sound installation.

‘Turn To The Sea’ creates evolving soundscapes from meteorological and ecological data sourced from Billia Croo, an observation site on a cliff-top overlooking the west coast of Orkney. The data was collected by the European Marine Energy Centre to assess the suitability of floating vessels designed to harness wave energy as an alternative power source, considering the possible affect they might have on the feeding patterns of wildlife. 

As aural observers, participants can explore, listen up-close and interact with hanging sound emitting structures by touch; to see, hear and physically feel the environmental turbulence as sonic vibrations. Lights augment and respond to the interaction, casting distorted fluctuating shadows and reflections from the vibrating sound emitters. Wildlife observations are represented spatially, to illustrate location, movement and distance, using synthesised sounds to enable the observer to distinguish individual species of bird and sea mammal. An aural key enables the observer to isolate the sound of each species using a stethoscope, to help identify the aural representation of a particular species within the soundscape as a whole.

The explorative process aims to make the data less ambiguous and more accessible, encouraging the observer to experiment and discover for themselves, aiming to extend engagement with the exhibit and deepen understanding of information being presented. 

The sculptural sound emitters are constructed using different materials to process and project the sound in different ways, suspended from floor-standing stands which can be positioned in a spatial array to suit the acoustic properties of the exhibition space.

Link to press release here