‘Stepping out into the beautiful, humid garden, I strove to understand my surroundings through the sounds they produced. Standing in the garden, just in front of the guest house, the first thing that struck me was the profound stillness of the environment. Never before had I encountered such a palpable silence.’
Listening to Glenkeen Garden
During her residency at Glenkeen Garden, Tania Rubio, a sound artist and biomusic researcher, immersed herself in the garden’s subtle soundscapes. She captured the natural sounds of raindrops, gentle waves, bird calls, buzzing insects, distant cattle, and rhythmic beats from improvised percussion.
Her work, ‘The Language of Water’ (2021), is a two-part sonic tapestry reflecting her experience with diverse Irish landscapes and water’s essential role in shaping them. It invites listeners on a journey through imaginary acoustic environments.
The electroacoustic version, featured in the exhibition, incorporates field recordings from Glenkeen Garden alongside sounds from a homemade instrument. The second version, for string, brass, and percussion en semble with electronics, is inspired by the varied flows of water, evoking soundscapes, colors, and textures.
Tania Rubio, The Language of Water, 2021
Tania Rubio, The Language of Water, 2021
Tania Rubio, The Language of Water, 2021
Premiere of Tania Rubio's ‘The Language of Water’ by Ensemble Modern as part of the event 'Paths Unseen: The Sounds of Glenkeen‘ in the exhibition 'The Glenkeen Variations: ArtNature/NatureArt', 29 November 2024, photo: Christof Jakob
