Sonic experience – bodily listening

Our listening-perspective corresponds with body as an important receptor of space and at the same time it reflects the issue of consciousness about the body. Another aspect of the auditory perception is the conveyance of plasticity and materiality of the source of the sound and the structure of the space. This perception is not only pure auditory experience but it also arouses tactile feeling and visual association. The tactile and visual association is connected to memories of every recipient, which he/she has already experienced.

Physical-action-related eight-channel field recording

Because of these complex multisensory aspects of the sound, the sonic experience can be highly intimate bodily perception. In order to focus on the bodily experience of the sound, I made physical-action-related eight-channel field recordings with 8 miniature microphones, which were fixed on different parts of my body, on both of the hands, on heel of the both feet, on chest (with a stethoscope, in order to record heartbeats), in front and back of head etc. Each of the channels recorded different listening perspectives of the environment outside and inside of the body. The diverse recordings with 8 channels were mixed into stereo and even only listening to the mixed material, you feel as if you were moving inside/on the surface of someone’s body and you find an extraordinary relation to the environment through sound.

Auditory and tactile sonic perception

Another important auditory aspect of this work is the transformation of the audio signal into physical vibration. The transducers are installed in different positions: under your head, chest, hands and feet. Corresponding the sound material, tactile signal, such like bicycle-tire running on sandy ground or cutting a vegetable on a wooden cutting board, are physically sensible due to transducers. As each audio channel are independently connected to the each transducers, the positioning of the tactile signal can be free to compose: which signal will be sensible at which position of the recipient’s body. When you lie down in the capsule, you are physically covered and in a relaxed position. Because of the sound material and the total setting of the experience in the capsule, your consciousness to your own body will be gained and built an extraordinary sonic experience – bodily listening.