hörraum
march 2021 — august 2021
initated w/ Laura Sophie Meyer
space and collective
the need for a common place in which to meet and communicate came from an imposed lockdown in Austria during winter 2021. we soon realized this space needed to be physical, and despite the strict regulations regarding the possibility of gathering in groups, we decided – yet always taking care of our and other people's health – to open our living room in Waltherstraße, Linz, and start to organize small events such as jam sessions, dinners and collective experimental sessions drawing from the experience of Pauline Oliveros and others. The room was arranged with a big cozy carpet, pillows, plants and a low warm light. Technical equipment was provided and freely accessible by everyone during the meetings – mixer, microphones, recorders, various musical instruments, a small FM radio transmitter, typewriters, DIA projectors, etc.
manifesto
as a reaction to the separation / objectification / exploitation produced by the neoliberal capitalistic system and considering the current social discourses and global political situation, we now find energy and hope to participate with small but meaningful actions in a potential shift towards a culture of empathy. especially now, we realize the impossibility to sort out solutions and positive narratives as individuals, in a way that could have been possible during the years b.c. (before corona) – relations around us are our strength. starting from a critical position towards the art system and the glorification of creative individuals, we feel part of a growing voice speaking up for solidarity and practices of caring – with the wish of going towards more collective efforts and encouraging some sort of social healing. we are eager to leave behind concepts of authorship, artistic expression, recognition, evaluation, artistic masturbation and maybe art in general.
development
while new guests would come and leave the space every time, a rather stable group of 6 artists decided to meet every Friday night to talk about sound and listening, experiment with clay vessels, microphones, radio waves interferences, Deep Listening exercises and so on. The group also developed a practice of collective silence sessions, or “kollektives Stimmversagen” – consisting in sitting on the ground in a circle, agreeing on a time and staying in silence for that duration. Afterward, papers and pens would be distributed giving the opportunity to write down or draw some thoughts, which are then randomly distributed and interpreted one after the other, speaking to a recorder / transmitting live on radio. This practice was experimented a number of times in groups up to 26 people.
elements
contact microphones / bodies / electromagnetic exploration / electricity sources / cell phones / global streaming Reveil 24+1 Hour Broadcast / interaction / silent jamming with each other and the space / experimental exploration of the voice / ‘soundcarpet’ / silent sessions and writings / drawings of individual perceptions / arising thoughts / pirate radio streaming performance / synchronicities / morning rituals