Gluon Art and research

Aquatocene

A subaquatic quest for serenity
Robertina Šebjanič

KAAP, Ostend

Exhibitions
 

During the entire month of May GLUON joins forces with De Tijd on an extensive dossier on the economy of the North Sea and the exhibition of the sound installation Aquatocene at KAAP in Ostend. In the artistic project Aquatocene, artist Robertina Šebjanič investigates the impact of underwater noise on the aquatic ecosystem in lakes, rivers and seas. Underwater noise pollution — a consequence of our contemporary industrialized seas and oceans — is an underexposed but serious threat to marine life worldwide. It is caused by human activities such as shipping, off-shore industry, construction, fishing and water sports, and has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. In general, the effects of underwater noise are still relatively unknown, but on all species of marine life — from whales to the smallest organisms — effects have been observed, and the impact varies by species. According to the World Health Organization, more than 150 species are threatened by it. Since 2016, Šebjanič has traveled around the world to record underwater noise pollution. Her large and growing database of sounds, forms the basis for audiovisual performances, installations and educational workshops. The installation at the Venetian Galleries brings a 20 minute long soundtrack with recordings of bioacoustics of marine life (shrimps, fish, …) and the presence of human generated noise in the North Sea. With her project, Šebjanič wants to underscore the importance of maintaining safe sound environments for animals living in the world’s oceans and seas.

Listen to the soundtrack here

You can listen live on 8/05, 9/05, 13/05, 14/05, 15/05, 16/05, 22/05, 23/05, 24/05, 29/05 en 30/05 from 12 till 6 pm at KAAP (Zeedijk, Koning Boudewijnpromenade 10, Ostend)

Watch the full interview with Robertina Šebjanič in De Tijd

Image (left & right) Robertina Sebjanic, Auquatocene, 2016 - ongoing. Courstesy of the Artist

In partnership with De Tijd
Partners LUCA School of Arts, KAAP
With the support of the STARTS Horizon 2020 programme of the European Commission in the framework of STARTS 4 WATER