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Name of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)
Silent Resonance
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URL of a video introducing the work（under 5 minutes）
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1gx5r2218c9s8hix7t1d9/Silent-Resonance.mp4?rlkey=l1u755xytyiu8yx9wf8ddezxh&st=83vkqk4w&dl=0
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Detailed explanation of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)
Nowadays, much more publicity surrounds notions of reintroductions and rewilding, whereas people focus more on recycling and the ozone layer than nature itself.
Silent Resonance emerges from my interest in using art and design to explore ecological challenges. This interest stems partly from my observations of how natural experiences differ across various regions. The widening disconnect from the natural world has become apparent, marked by our increasing difficulty engaging with it.
A 2020 report by The Mammal Society highlighted this issue, revealing that 1 in 4 mammal species in the UK is at risk of extinction. In London, beaver was once hunted to extinction and is now classified as "Endangered." As a keystone species, beavers play a critical role in ecosystems, with an influence extending far beyond their abundance. Therefore, their reintroduction to the UK has sparked considerable discussion, as they are vital for ecosystem health.
In this project, I explored the soundscapes of London's beaver habitats, which have become unfamiliar due to their long absence. This absence evokes a profound sense of loss tied to the decline in biodiversity. I sought to process these complex emotions through art and design, informed by ecological theory and literature. During the ideation process, I drew inspiration from the historical use of ceramic vessels as tools for communication and storytelling, crafting objects that reflect the narrative of the beaver's extinction and reintroduction in London.
This project explores the mismatch between our memories of nature. The significance of nature soundscapes transcends mere auditory experience; they are intertwined with memory and our ability to find comfort in nature. Memories play a crucial role—without them, people are less likely to view endangered species and natural environments as restorative and are less motivated to preserve them.
This cross-disciplinary research approach and deliverables underscored the project's commitment to using art and design as a narrative for reflecting on ecological concerns. I hope to illustrate the crucial moment at the intersection of social, scientific and environmental factors. Silent Resonance aspires to engage audiences in a broader discourse on ecological issues by developing it through art and design. I hope this work highlights the urgency of these matters and empowers the audience to reflect on and engage more with the natural world. -
How does your work address the 3 P’s (for Planet, for People, for Profit) for Sustainability?
Sustainable transitions extend beyond mere technological innovations. By engaging both human and non-human actors, we can reshape democratic approaches to ecological and environmental challenges.
Silent Resonance embodies the themes of wildlife reintroduction and natural experience mismatch by creating tangible objects that tell the story and reflect on the dissonance between past and present nature memories. The project bridges this gap through a narrative centred on London beavers' extinction and reintroduction, brought to life through art and design.
The outcomes of this project take the form of two vases, each transformed from natural soundscapes into three-dimensional objects. The first vase is generated by the dawn chorus recorded in February 2024 in the beaver habitat in London, capturing the restored natural environment shaped by the beavers' return. The second vase speculates on the past, interpreting the natural soundscape of Medieval London based on London's Natural History by R.S.R. Fitter. This comparison does more than shape forms; it reflects on our evolving relationship with the natural world.
Alongside the vases is a documentary that serves as both an artefact of ecological change and a medium for engaging the public in dialogue about people's relationship with the planet. It further reinforces the project's objective to foster deeper conversations about the human impact on ecosystems.
Silent Resonance invites audiences to reconsider our perceptions of nature, prompted by exploring what has been lost in today's ecosystem. Insights from ecology, conservation and wildlife and environmental sounds archive have shaped the project, along with input from experts in these fields. This interdisciplinary collaboration grounds the work in reality while expanding its conceptual reach into art and design.
Ultimately, the project aims to provoke broader public discourse and extend its influence into biology, ecology and policy, fostering a deeper engagement of ecological and environmental challenges. -
Keywords
#Activism #Archives & Collections # Climate Emergency # Nature & Environment # Biodiversity #Biomass #CrossDiscipline
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If you have a website for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL
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If you have a social media account for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL
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Special Prize Question 1: "Empowering nature to create a new loop”: How does your work strengthen or support nature’s ability to capture and convert waste into valuable resources? How does your work advance industry practices by introducing nature-positive alternatives?
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Special Prize Question 2: “Regenerating ecosystems”: In what inspiring ways does your work contribute to the restoration and stabilization of natural ecosystems?
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Special Prize Question 3: “Education and storytelling”: How does your work make complex bioeconomy concepts accessible and engaging?
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Silent Resonance
Others
Silent Resonance is a project that investigates and challenges our preconceptions of nature's norms. Central to the work is an exploration of 'How important are natural sounds to our life?' I draw from a fascinating yet deeply overlooked notion within ecological thinking, 'Shifting Baseline Syndrome', to uncover this terrain. The latter is a phenomenon that shows the gradual decline of collective memory and experience concerning the norm of nature as species gradually disappear.
The research is synthesised through interdisciplinary discovery, ecology, conservation and wildlife & environmental sounds archiving. The insights discovered in the research process and stakeholder interviews are developed to create designs that respond to the gradually diminishing natural soundscapes specifically associated with beaver extinction and reintroduction in London, UK.
The outcomes present two vases representing the soundscapes before and after the beavers' extinction in London, which occurred between 400 years ago and today, which serve as an artefact of ecological change and the medium to engage audiences in a broader discourse and encouraging deeper reflection and engagement on the environmental issues.
The research is synthesised through interdisciplinary discovery, ecology, conservation and wildlife & environmental sounds archiving. The insights discovered in the research process and stakeholder interviews are developed to create designs that respond to the gradually diminishing natural soundscapes specifically associated with beaver extinction and reintroduction in London, UK.
The outcomes present two vases representing the soundscapes before and after the beavers' extinction in London, which occurred between 400 years ago and today, which serve as an artefact of ecological change and the medium to engage audiences in a broader discourse and encouraging deeper reflection and engagement on the environmental issues.
