One Square Inch of Silence

Simon Koehn and Adele Sliuzas will present research around their interdisciplinary project One Square Inch of Silence, spanning acoustic ecology, environmental activism, sonic and visual arts. The project positions artists as commentators, investigators and activists who are active agents in a shifting world. One Square Inch of Silence takes its name from a project designed by American field recordist and acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton. He writes, ‘The logic is simple; if a loud noise, such as the passing of an aircraft, can impact many square miles, then a natural place, if maintained in a 100% noise-free condition, will also impact many square miles around it.’ Simon and Adele will speak about the relationship between people and their environment, and the impact of sound on the natural as well as human world. They ask audiences to respond to the concept of silence; the implications of moving between sonic worlds, the affect of sound & space on the body, the idea of protecting an acoustic ecology from the noise of the anthropocene. This presentation will also include a sound component, featuring field recordings from Mampurti (Mambray Creek) in the Southern Flinders Ranges.