SONIC MATTER_OPENLAB

SONIC MATTER_openlab : The Witness

Around the world, transdisciplinary groups of artists, scientists and activists in collaboration with their local communities, are listening to our imperiled planet’s messages around potential collapse - or hope for rehabilitation.

In 2021, SONIC MATTER_openlab has shared the work of research groups in North and South America via an interactive global map that highlights the relationship between humans and our non-human kin. Including audio, video, text and other creative platforms, their research implores us to witness what may disappear forever, as well as build, with great urgency, new networks of caregiving for the earth. Each of these groups contribute to raising awareness about the emerging and ever-shifting challenges of our planet and humanity, informing more sustainable solutions, and cultivating a deeper spirituality.

At Gessnerallee, SONIC MATTER_openlab proposes a unique setting in resonance of these fragments and topics. The performance will offer visitors the opportunity to discover the work and get in touch with SONIC MATTER_openlab’s researchers and to experience in a communal way the connecting potential of «The Witness».

HEAD-RESEARCHERS AND COMMUNITIES

- Sonandes & Guely Moratò and Víctor Mazón Gardoqui (Bolivia)
- Sapara Nation of Amazonian Ecuador & Fabiano Kueva and Eduardo Kohn (Canada & Ecuador)
- Deep listening community & Claire Chase (USA / East coast)
- Communities living in partially burned forests & Caroline Miller (USA / West coast)
- matralab & Sandeep Bhagwati (Canada)
- Central Amazonia Group & Marcus Maeder (Brazil & Switzerland)

INSTALLATION AT GESSNERALLEE
Design and installation coordination: Manon Fantini
Openlab curation, event introduction: Julie Beauvais
Technical and stage management: Leo Collin
Sound engineer: Leandro Gianini
Graphic design: Lukas Ackermann

Suitable for anyone who wants to participate in the development of sustainable cultural practice.
Event partly in English and other languages.

PRODUCTION
SONIC MATTER, Platform for experimental music

SUPPORTERS
Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, SüdKulturFonds

PARTNER
ZHdK - Zurich University of the Arts

SUPPORT FOR RESEARCHERS
Concordia University Montréal, Embassy of Switzerland in Bolivia, Embassy of Switzerland in Ecuador, Círculo Cultural de Suiza en Ecuador, Harvard University, Horning Tree Seed Orchard, McGill University, Portland State University, Prince Claus Fund, Swissnex Brazil

CO-PRODUCERS
Alarm will sound, AmazonFace, Labverde, matralab, Ministry of Maåt, Novas Frequências Festival, SAMPle Laptop Ensemble, Sonandes

SPECIAL THANKS
The Witness _Pauline Oliveros (1989) © 2013 Anthology of Text Scores Deep Listening Publications All Rights Reserved Permissions from: The Pauline Oliveros Trust

VENUE PARTNER
Sincere thanks to our venue partner Gessnerallee

STREAMING PARTNER
Culturescapes