The Biennale of Sydney and Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain present the Australian première of The Great Animal Orchestra, a singular and memorable encounter with our living planet.
The environmentally focused work by American pioneer soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause and London-based collective United Visual Artists will be presented at the Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo for the duration of the 23rd Biennale of Sydney, titled rīvus, from 12 March to 13 June 2022.
A collision of culture and nature, The Great Animal Orchestra will take you out of city life and into tropical grasslands, savannas and Arctic tundra for an ‘otherworldly encounter’ with a soundscape of 15,000 animal species recorded over the last 50 years. After working with musicians like The Doors and creating effects for film scores, Bernie Krause turned his back on studio work and headed outdoors to focus on field recording.
Krause’s unparalleled research is a rare insight into the unseen world of animals. It reveals the beauty and the intricacy of animal vocalisations, which are now in danger of being silenced by human activity. Through his recording, Krause implores us to start listening before hush descends on the ‘great animal orchestra’. The immersive soundscape comes to life with visualisations, created by United Visual Artists, of each animal’s contributions to the ‘orchestra’ in vulnerable habitats in Africa, North America, the Pacific Ocean and the Amazonas (Amazon River).
The Great Animal Orchestra is a compelling call to action to preserve our planet’s remaining wild places. Listen closely to these animal voices. How can you help to ensure that they are not silenced forever?
The Great Animal Orchestra, a collaboration between Bernie Krause and United Visual Artists, was commissioned in 2016 by the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain and is now part of its collection. The exhibition is organised by the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain and the Biennale of Sydney.
Installation view of The Great Animal Orchestra at Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2016. © Bernie Krause / © UVA. Photograph: Luc Boegly.
Installation view of The Great Animal Orchestra at Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2016. © Bernie Krause / © UVA. Photograph: Luc Boegly.
Bernie Krause
Bernie Krause began studying music at the age of four. From 1964, he formed a pioneering duo with musician Paul Beaver and collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry and the film world. In 1970, the team released an album on the theme of ecology, In a Wild Sanctuary, fusing natural soundscapes with electronic music for the first time. From that point on, Bernie Krause became passionate about making sound recordings of wild ecosystems and the animal species inhabiting them. He was awarded a PhD in bioacoustics in 1981, at which point he decided to travel the world, making recordings in what was left of the planet’s wilderness. He has since built an outstanding collection of soundscapes and observes that more than 50 per cent of the habitats included in this collection have today disappeared as wild habitats, due to human activities and the consequential ecological loss.
United Visual Artists
Matthew Clark (born 1974) founded United Visual Artists (UVA) to bring an open and inclusive approach to artistic collaboration across disciplines. UVA’s diverse body of work integrates new technologies with traditional media such as painting, sculpture, performance, and site-specific installation. Past projects include collaborations with choreographer Benjamin Millepied and the Paris Opera Ballet, fashion designer Christopher Bailey, and musicians James Blake, Battles, and Massive Attack.
