Friday, 04 December, 2026 - 20:00
sounding ways of being # 2
Ute Wassermann
Dafne Narvaez Berlfein
Sabine Vogel
The concert series sounding ways of being 2, curated by Ute Wassermann, explores sonic affinities, transformations, and interactions between voice, instruments, objects, and the element of water—inspired by the research of artist James Bridle: Humans are closely intertwined with an intelligent environment that encompasses the intelligence of animals, plants, and machines. The dichotomy between humans and animals, nature and technology, is thus called into question in favor of a more complex reality.
Hydra explores the limits of our human perception. Underwater, there is an intense acoustic communication among countless organisms that is inaudible to us. Even the anthropogenic acoustic pollution of the oceans—caused by shipping traffic or explosions—which threatens this very biodiversity, remains hidden from our ears.
In Hydra, the three performers become researchers. They enter into diverse relationships with a hidden and enigmatic world. Activated by the element of water, specially crafted ocarinas—whose organic forms are reminiscent of amphorae, octopuses, or remnants of ammunition—take on a life of their own life of its own, both acoustic and visual. The polyphonic, flowing, electrical-organic soundscape of these ceramic beings is amplified by hydrophone interactions and subtly interwoven with the breath, voices, and whistling sounds of the human performers. Through live video, the miniature stage “Aquarium” is spatially expanded, transforming the “outside world” into an immersive universe of currents, bubbles, and turbulence.
With Introspective Affairs, wassermannvogel create intimate soundscapes by expanding the flute’s range with singing, whispering, and various mouth percussion sounds (Sabine Vogel), and the voice with bird whistles and objects (Ute Wassermann).
