Paper short abstract:

"Resounding Transitions" explores urban Turkey's shift from natural landscapes to concrete through an acousmatic sound installation inspired by soundscape ecology. It uses processed sounds to promote new practices of critical listening and ecological sensitivities.

Paper long abstract:

"Resounding Transitions" is an acousmatic sound installation that delves into the evolving ecological landscapes of urban Turkey, focusing on Ankara's shift from natural riverscapes to concrete urbanity. Drawing inspiration from soundscape ecology (Pijanowski et al. 2011) methodologies, this project aims to establish a critical sonic practice. Building on the work of Hildegard Westerkamp, the proposed work theorizes sound as an ecological element and mediator of the construction of knowledge and experience. By utilizing recorded sound samples from various locations in Ankara—where once audible river murmurs are now overshadowed by concrete—this installation crafts an acousmatic soundscape. This soundscape challenges traditional categorizations of sound and its sources, urging participants to engage more deeply with the auditory experience, reconsider their environmental interactions, and promote new sensitivities towards the non-human agents within these environments.

"Resounding Transitions" constructs an immersive auditory experience highlighting the nuanced interplay between human and non-human agents in urban settings. Through juxtapositions of various sonic layers and sources, the reassembled sounds serve as a poignant reminder of the ecological shifts from lush riverscapes to urban expanses, underscoring the agency of the non-human in our environments. This installation not only functions as an artistic endeavor but also as a scientific provocation. It invites participants to adopt new sensitivities as legitimate ways of understanding ecosystems, fostering a space for reflection on urban development's ecological impacts.