On Sonorous Seas

09/12/2022

'On Sonorous Seas' is now open in Reid Gallery until 17 December. Visit Mon-Sat 10am to 4.30pm.

Photographed here is 'Extant' Cuvier's Beaked Whale skull, recovered from Bragar, Isle of Lewis, by Jon Macleod in 2018. Etched silver rest by Mhairi Killin, words from 'Ossuary' by Miek Zwamborn, and calligraphy by Susie Leiper.

In 2018 over 45 Cuvier's Beaked Whales were stranded on the shores of several Hebridean islands. At the same time, another 23 whales were stranded on the West Coast of Ireland, and scientists have been investigating this 'unique mortality event' in relation to the increased presence of military activity in the area around Porcupine Bank.

'On Sonorous Seas' began with a whale carcass that came ashore in August 2018 in Iona, where artist Mhairi Killin lives. What became of the whale is a story told with the voices of science, art, music and poetry. It interrogates the power of, and reliance on, sound as a survival tool for both the whales and the military and the complex relationship between the militarization of Scotland's Seas and their existing ecosystems.

The exhibition was commissioned by An Tobar and Mill Theatre, where the exhibition was first exhibited in July/August 2022.

*All cetacean species found in Scottish waters are classed as European-protected species, and a Nature Scot license is required to use/collect their remains. Mhairi Killin is covered by a Nature Scot license to carry out this project.

Photo: GSA Exhibitions

30/09/2022

In this final episode, Mhairi talks with Dr Denise Risch from the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Denise is a marine mammal ecologist who studies underwater sounds and sonic marine environments to investigate how marine species use and are impacted by sound. During the conversation, Denise plays a number of marine animal sounds and explains why sound is such an important sense and vital for survival. Human sounds are also talked about, and how this anthropogenic noise is rapidly becoming a major threat to the ecology of our seas.

Huge thanks to everyone who has helped make this podcast series possible Jen Anderson Fergus Hall - Composer and musician, and thanks to The Space Arts for the commission. We hope to work on a second series with more exploration of our borderless seas and who has agency over them, and how we advocate for the sea and its creatures - our planet’s last true wilderness.

Listen here - https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes/on-sonorous-seas-the-marine-soundscape

24/09/2022

Am bi luchd-ealain ag èisteachd ann an dòigh eadar-dhealaichte o luchd-saidheans? Gu dearbha, am bi gach neach againn ag èisteachd ann an dòigh eadar-dhealaichte o chèile agus, am bi sin a’ toirt buaidh air mar a chì sinn an saoghal agus mar a thuigeas sinn é?

A bonus episode in Gaelic of ‘The Sounds’ is now available over on the website and on all the usual podcast platforms. Huge thanks to Alasdair C. Whyte / Alasdair C. Macillebhàin for his beautiful Gaelic, Jen The Bothy Society and Fergus Hall - Composer and musician for their help in getting this episode out and to The Space Arts for commissioning the podcast.

https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes/on-sonorous-seas-the-sounds

09/09/2022

Episode 5 - On Sonorous Seas - The Gaelic.

A bilingual episode where Mhairi Killin tries out her learner's Gaelic with the very patient and talented Alasdair C. Whyte / Alasdair C. Macillebhàin - musician, writer, singer and academic from Mull. She hears all about local place names, songs and stories relating to the seas around Mull, Iona and the Hebrides.

https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes/on-sonorous-seas-the-gaelic

27/08/2022

Episode 4: On Sonorous Seas - The Sounds.

Do artists listen differently from scientists? In fact, if we all listen differently from each other, how does this affect our perception of the world and our shared understanding of it? What happens when we can hear sounds but are separated visually from their source? For example when listening to the sonic underworld of the sea via a hydrophone. Close your eyes and lose yourself in the sonic underworld of the Hebridean seas, listen to dolphin whistles and snapping shrimp and hear about the concept of Deep Listening, pioneered by composer and musician Pauline Oliveras.

Listen online at https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes

14/08/2022

The Science of the Sea

Episode 3: On Sonorous Seas - The Science. In this episode Mhairi meets Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust director Alison Lomax and HWDT science officerJenny Hampson to discuss the amazing ecology of the seas around the west coast of Scotland, and hear more about their citizen science programme, and their research into the impact of Joint Warrior on cetacean behaviour.

https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes/on-sonorous-seas-the-science

Mhairi meets Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust director Alison Lomax and Jenny Hampson of HWDT to discuss the amazing ecology of the seas around the west coast of Scotland and hear more about their citizen science programme, and HWDT research into the impact of Joint Warrior on cetacean behavi

22/07/2022

Episode 2 is available now. You can hear Mhairi Killin in conversation with composer Fergus Hall - Composer and musician ~ hear how Fergus composed his powerful and moving soundscape for On Sonorous Seas.

Enjoy listening https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes

21/07/2022

Listen in on Friday to Fergus Hall - Composer and musician talk about how he composed his powerful soundscape to On Sonorous Seas and his love of watery beings. If you've not yet listened to the first podcast episode, you can do so at https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes/the-north-end-whale

08/07/2022

Exhibition opening tomorrow, but if you want to get started early the first episode of the podcast is available today.

https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes

The artist spent 10 days sailing with scientists to listen for the impact of sonar on cetaceans. In her new collaborative exhibition, she uses whale bones, sound recordings, video and poetry to probe our relationship with the creatures

08/07/2022

The first episode of the On Sonorous Seas podcast is available today!

You can listen at: https://www.onsonorousseas.com/episodes/the-north-end-whale

Or subscribe and follow through your favourite podcast platform here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0a7f26c8

The exhibition (Mhairi Killin and Fergus Hall with Tom DeMajo, Miek Zwamborn and Susie Leiper: On Sonorous Seas) opens to the public at An Tobar and Mull Theatre tomorrow, with performances on beaches on Mull & Iona in August.

The voices in On Sonorous Seas are Mhairi Killin, Fergus Hall - Composer and musician, Lea Shaw, Tom DeMajo, Miek Zwamborn, Susie Leiper painter and calligrapher supported by The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, National Museums Scotland, Creative Scotland, CHArts Argyll and Isles, The Space Arts.

With thanks to Jon Macleod, Màiri NicGillìosa, An Tobar, Mike Darling and Alicia Hendrick.