White Noise

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND This project was an outcome of an Australian Antarctic Division Arts Fellowship Samartzis received in 2010. Informed by work on acoustic ecologies and composers such as Doug Quin, Chris Watson and Bernie Krause, the aim of the work was to document through experimental sound recordings and aurally represent the effects of extreme cold and weather events on settlements in Antarctica and Macquarie Island. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION The research explored the impact of extreme environmental conditions on people and their adaptations to these changes. Samartzis made experimental sound recordings which documented dramatic weather conditions in Antarctica and Macquarie Island. These include sounds such as shuddering ice falling into the sea and howling gale force winds. An important aspect of the recordings involved the facilitation of an active process of listening that is often ignored in a visually dominated world. The recordings now constitute an extensive collection made available to museum visitors who listen to the soundscapes of the two locations on large headphones. The act of listening transports listeners to the ice and snow providing listeners with the opportunity to aurally experience these wild and distant locations. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE The work was part of the Traversing Antarctica: The Australian Experience to celebrate the centenary of Sir Douglas Mawson' research trip to Antarctica to discover the magnetic pole. The exhibition is a joint project by the National Archives of Australia, the Australian Antarctic Division and the Western Australian Museum. The collection debuted at the Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery and continues to travel to a number of capital and regional museums and galleries.