In times of visual dominance, sound opens unexpected windows to the world. It offers a change in perspective that helps us to move beyond anthropocentric narratives. Still we experience these vibes with our human body. Sound is visceral and incredibly direct.
Coming up
- May 1st 2025 – Shady Linen at Osaka World Expo (JP)
- June 1st 2025 – Row your boat at iCOON Hoek van Holland
- June 16th untill July 27th – Ottori for Amsterdam Noord at De Nieuwe Gang groupshow ‘WATER’
- August 23rd untill november 30th 2025 – Phonic Movements at Rokko Meets Art – Kobe (JP)
- Summer of 2026 Water Whistle in memory of Max Neuhaus – Marnixbad
Below is a selection of sound works that I made.
Phonic Movements
(sound installation)
Field recordings, speakers, camera, software
Rokko Meets Art, Kobe (JP)
2025
Phonic Movements is a site-specific sound installation that explores how technology shapes our relationship with nature. The work departs from Mt. Rokko’s local sounds like wind, frog and birdsong and transforms these into a live, evolving composition through digital algorithms. Through a camera an algorithmic system looks for visual patterns in the surrounding plant life. Attuned to the movement of the surrounding trees, visitors hear both the original and digitally altered sounds. As branches shake and shadows change over time the sonic results develop from sounds we recognise as natural to ones perceived as unnatural. A shift that explores a sonic equivalent of the uncanny valley.
The work explores how technology shapes our relationship with nature. It offers a sonic window for visitors to syncronize with the pace of the soundscape in the area where it is installed. Thus the work is an attempt to create a conversation between nature, machine and human voices as well as an invitation to listen to one’s environment.
Technical development of this work is done in collaboration with Andreas Tegnander and Nathan Marcus. Advise and on-site assistance by Rosa Ronsdorf and Tomoya Iwata. Many thanks to the team at Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2025
Whisperweed
(installation)
asperagus, palm, musa, field recordings
de Ijsbrand, Amsterdam (NL)
2024
An interactive sound installation where artists’ plants share memories with whomever takes the time to sit down and physically connect. When touched, the visitor hears these sounds from an easy chair.
The sounds are selected field recordings found at places that each relate to these plants in a different way, exploring the mnemonic power of the medium. The sounds don’t carry words. They are slow-paced impressions of a time and space familiar to the plants.
オットリ [Ottori]
(installation)
Field recordings, found objects, drawings
Arts Itoya residency project, Takeo (JP)
2023
During this residency I created a number of sound sculptures. In four weeks of biking around the surroundings of Takeo, I captured the sounds of its human and non-human inhabitants. I combine these recordings with my study of everyday materials making the sonic tactile again. Through processing with algorithms commonly used to enhance vocal-production in popmusic, I sculpted these field recordings to bring out the voices they possess.
The countryside streams, fiery kilns and the glimmer of freshly baked ceramics I arranged in pairs following their harmonic affordances.
Many thanks to Arts Itoya, Hiryugama and Nobumasa Marutagama kilns and all the lovely people from Takeo for their warm welcome.
· r · e · s · p · o · n · g · e ·
(sound for exhibition)
Four compositions for exhibition
De Fabriek, Eindhoven (NL)
2022
I recorded a collection of ambient compositions to accompany the exhibition · r · e · s · p · o · n · g · e · This solo show by Isolde Venrooy offered an overview of her recent work. At the core of the exhibition concept was her work ‘Blue Carpet’. Isolde grew plants on a piece of land with the exact dimensions of her artist studio. These plants (Marigold and Woad) are perceived not yellow but ultraviolet blue by insects. Full grown the Woad plants were dried and gave their blue color to fabrics used in the exhibition.
The four compositions feature many species (bird, insect and vegetal) that are common in the area that Isolde worked at. The field recordings then inspired a proces in which I digitally and phyically immitated the natural sounds. The result is a sonic meditation; part foley and in part a melodic field trip.
For information and documentation on the exhibition, check out: isoldevenrooy.com
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Extratool
(curating)
residency series
Extrapool, Nijmegen (NL)
2020 ~
In the residency series ‘Extratool’, Extrapool cedes its studio space for a few days to a duo of musicians or (sound-)artists to make two new compositions. In the week leading up to a concert they work with Yuri Landman’s string and percussion instruments.
Editions include work by Christina Vantzou & John Also Bennett, Limpe Fuchs & Zoro Babel, Dali Muru & The Polyphonic Swarm, Eerie Wanda & Adam Harding, Big Hare, Albert van Abbe & David von Bahr and SOON.
studio assistance by Rikkert Brok, Petra Randewijk
mastering by Peter Johan Nÿland at 4 & Rising
tapes are duplicated by Lilia Scheerder
artwork by Jacob Hoving
All editions can be heard and purchased at bandcamp at extratool.bandcamp.com
Dry Wet Dry
(installation)
Seaweed, found objects,
De Fabriek, Eindhoven (NL)
2021
Vibrations are all around us and so is sound. The question is; What will be heard? As a human, bird or seaweed?
In DryWetDry, five installations each let us listen to a different state of the saturation of seaweed by water. On the extremely wet side, seaweed (oarweed, sugar kelp a.o) is sloshing around in an aquarium. Once drained and dried, they make a scraping and crackling sound. Dried, seaweeds soon become consumer goods, ready to be pulverized in the food industry.
Listen to the podcast Verstrengeld here. Sounds of DryWetDry are used in that artistic research, poetic, scientific podcast-series.
| 2020 ~ | Sound design for Verstrengeld podcast series |
| 2026 | Research and performance installation in memory of Max Neuhaus’ Water Whistle project – Marnixbad – Amsterdam |
| 2025 | Sound installation Phonic Movements – Rokko Meets Art 2025 beyond – Kobe (JP) |
| 2025 | Ottori for Amsterdam Noord at groupshow ‘WATER’ – De Nieuwe Gang – Beuningen |
| 2025 | Performance lecture Row your boat – iCOON – Hoek van Holland |
| 2025 | Soundtrack for Shady Linen – EXPO 2025 – Osaka |
| 2024 | Whisperweed – de Ijsbrand Open Studios – Amsterdam |
| 2024 | Seaweed recording studio – part of Verstrengeld – Club Solo – Breda |
| 2024 | Ottori for Amsterdam Noord at Voice of Nature – Treehouse – Amsterdam |
| 2024 | Ode to the sea / Verstrengeld soundsculpture and live performance at Into the Great Wide Open. |
| 2024 | Talk: Environmental listening session |
| 2023 | Row your boat video |
| 2023 | オットリ [Ottori] sound installation and live performance |
| 2022 | Compositions for exhibition *r*e*s*p*o*n*g*e* |
| 2020 | DryWetDry sound installation |
| 2019 | Yogasounds live set |
| 2017 | Wabi Abi live set |
| 2015 | Kaleidoskop Radio at Stranded FM |