David Chesworth

A self-led participatory artwork by David Chesworth.

Respectfully on the lands of First Nations peoples.

I would like to introduce you to four self-guided soundwalks. These can take place whenever we venture outdoors for a walk. A soundwalk can be a sensory, multi-dimensional experience that contrasts markedly with the bounded flatness of a computer or smartphone screen, where we often find ourselves spending much of our time.

And, anyone can do this.

If we actively listen, our walks can become revelatory experiences as we tune in to the diversity of sounds occurring around us in the present moment. Sounds are able to transcend the boundaries of our visual matrix, allowing us to experience a differently shaped world.

In this guide there are four soundwalks with listening tasks that can be undertaken in the McClelland Sculpture Park, and elsewhere.

The walks simply involve walking and quietly listening to the surrounding world and becoming familiar with what sounds can tell us.

It takes practice to listen to the world differently.

Try Walk One to start with, which contains listening prompts for your first sound walk.

You can walk anywhere you like and take as long as your exercise takes. You might want to listen during only part of your walk, or when sitting.

To access the listening guides, click the small images below. You can also listen to a more detailed spoken soundwalk guide for each walk.

I also invite you to upload your own comments and thoughts to discuss your listening experiences with myself and others on Facebook Group ‘Walking while Listening’.

Instructions

1. Put your phone on silent mode
2. If walking with others, no talking (unless crucial)
3. Best without pets