In a world that is dominated by the visual, and where conversations about contemporary issues can be polarising rather than constructive, what does listening mean today? How can we use the medium of sound to explore and challenge binary understandings of the world?
Ahead of Science Gallery London reopening to the public from late May 2022, the gallery team are running a series of events and installations for King’s students during the Spring term. Breaking the Binary Listening Club is a chance for students to reconnect with their sense of sound, connect with young people based in the newly opened sister Science Gallery in Melbourne, and explore what lies beyond binary understandings of the world around us.
What is Listening Club?
Listening Club is an easy, relaxed place where we can connect, expand, exchange and share our knowledges of sound and listening. It is run by artists Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphries, recently in residence at Science Gallery Melbourne. Their practice is in sound and listening.
Listening Club considers listening and sound in practice, as knowledge, as understanding, and as ways of making sense of the world around us. It aims to open up conversations through personal perspectives that explore thinking and living beyond binary categories (for example, art or science, right or left, male or female), through the medium of sound.
How do I get involved?
There are two ways to be involved in the listening club; you can either share or listen. The Listening Club event will take place on 2 March, with an introductory session on 16 February. Anyone who attends will be able to listen and be part of the conversation but also have the opportunity to share sound. If you would like to participate in sharing sound we would love you to think about three questions as well as share a track:
- Where does sound and listening sit in your practice/work/life?
- Bring a tune/music/audio recording/sound environment/experimental poetry/anything audio to the group, and tell us what it is and why you chose it. For example lately, we have been listening to Latvian noise music, Fiona Apple on repeat, and Korean cicada recordings.
- A question or statement you would like to leave with people about sound/listening in relation to the binary theme.
What happens?
At the introductory session on 16 February, participants will connect with artists Madeleine and Tim, and young people from Science Gallery Melbourne. Artists will introduce the Listening Club format and start a conversation exploring what beyond the binary might sound like in relation to categories including art / science or seeing / hearing.
At the performance session on 2 March, participants will be invited to share a sonic contribution of their own, reflect on their own and others’ contributions, and creatively share their own experiences in a series of short reflections.
Listening Club is very low pressure and is about creating a space where we can be together easily. Sound is a big place and all of us are in it in some way. We really look forward to what playlist we might make together.
This is a free online event.
RSVP to attend the Listening Club and information session as either a listener or participant, and also to let us know if you’re interested in contributing a sound.
Booking for the Listening Club information session closes on 14 February.
Booking for the Listening Club event closes on 28 February.
Supported by the UK/Australia Season Patrons Board, the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season.
More info on artists, hosts and participants:
Artists Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey
Science Gallery London GENDERS season (2021)