This exhibition invited audiences to consider the importance of listening as a means towards a better understanding of the urgent and complex environmental issues facing our planet. Whether it be the roar of bushfires; the creak of fragmenting glaciers; silence where there used to be bird song; or the hum of cicadas, our comprehension of sounds can lead to an intuitive understanding of the ecological issues confronting us.

Curated by Jon Buckingham, Lawrence Harvey, and Simon Lawrie, Site and sound surveyed diverse practices to reveal the connections between deep listening, field recording, acoustic ecology, natural science, and spatialised sound in contemporary art.

The exhibition drew from RMIT’s Sonic Arts Collection, Australia’s first dedicated collection in this field, augmented by four significant new commissions. It featured an evolving program of presentations, both within and beyond the gallery, across the internal spaces and outdoor environment of McClelland—these included immersive sound environments, a rich array of performances and listening events, and explorations of the history, theory and significance of field recording and sonic art which evolved over time and provided new experiences for each repeat visit.

Site and sound was presented in partnership with RMIT Culture and SIAL Sound Studios (RMIT), with technical assistance from Simon Maisch and Erik North.

Images: Site and sound: sonic art as ecological practice, installation views, McClelland. Photos Christian Capurro and Simon Lawrie.