Meditative Cohabitation is an immersive experience and speculative future scenario which explores Brussels ecosystem in regard to the present and future coexistence between humans and non-human species. The project looks into bioacoustics and interspecies communication and aims to translate communication signals and environmental real-time data into an AV artwork. The artistic research is interested in analysing different communication technologies, used by humans and non-humans. Brussels isn’t the only large city where wild animals are venturing – however if people take a step back, animals will take a healthy step forward- how can we give more space for non-human cohabitants using technologies as meditative translators?

Technology used: Custom audio sensor, Audio Classification Machine Learning Model, Touchdesigner, Unreal Engine

Studio Above&Below developed Meditative Cohabitation in 2022 during their residency at iMAL (BE).

Studio Above&Below is a London-based art, design and technology studio founded by Daria Jelonek (GER) and Perry-James Sugden (UK) after graduating from the Royal College of Art. Their work combines digital art, data and XR in order to draw together unseen connections between humans, machines and the environment.

Believing in research-based projects, Studio Above&Below often works with scientists, technologists, brands and communities to push the boundaries of digital media for future living. Over the last years the duo has created groundbreaking and innovative artworks using immersive technologies and data in order to make the invisible visible and to give our environment a voice to express itself.

Collaborator:

Yau Fan is an audio engineer in bioacoustics, noise musician, field recordist, naturalist (ornithologist, botanist, entomologist), and ecological sound designer based in Brussels.
His primary focus is on restoration of the earth on a global scale.
After working for 10 years as a sound engineer, label manager (Third Type Tapes), experimental musician and live coding performer (Exoterrism), he has switched his primary focus into landscape and permaculture design, and bioacoustics. In 2018 he has founded the open lab for bioacoustics in Brussels, and is collaborating with Myriam Lefebvre studying the communication of bees, partnered with the fungal lab for mycological experiments, and is part of the Fenetre Ovale, a Brussels based electroacoustic collective organising concerts and radio shows around the topic of species diversity, combining sound and biology.

Concept & Design: Studio Above&Below
Production: Studio Above&Below, iMAL
Sound Design: Yau Fan

Supported and funded by: European Media Art Platform, iMAL - Art Centre for digital cultures & technology, European Union.
Images: courtesy of the artist.