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Post Glacial Rebound
A soundwalk to encourage intimate connections with the island. Subtle resonances and disturbances, ecological transformations hovering on the edge of perception. The many sounds of flight. The signalling of plants and plankton. Listening as the biological time of generations intersects with the slow time of tectonic forces.
you can also listen online or download soundtrack as smaller file (82.5 MB)
Quick guide to the Post Glacial Rebound soundwalk
Welcome to Post Glacial Rebound, a soundwalk to encourage intimate connections with the island of Seili and its many inhabitants, human and otherwise.
The soundscape is composed with FoAM's field recordings made on Seili during the spring of 2019 and sonification of data collected at The Archipelago Research Institute over several decades. The time series used in the sound walk include oceanographic data (such as temperature, salinity, presence of chlorophyl, and oxygen levels) of the sea surrounding the island.
Incomplete without surface noise of the Anthropocene, makers' accidental gestures and interference of their instruments. Imperfections are part of the process.
More about the soundwalk at https://fo.am/publications/post-glacial-rebound/
Instructions for a self-guided walk
Starting point
- Seili Ferry stop, Postilaituri
- GPS coordinates: 60.23644498717649, 21.9552763835367
End point
- Gateway to the Archipelago Research Institute's courtyard (also Visit Seili meeting point)
- GPS coordinates: 60.23942068995505, 21.96268743832609
- a more detailed map can be found here
Before the walk
This walk includes a soundtrack as part of the experience. You will need a device that can play sound with earbuds or headphones (such as phone or mp3 player) for listening during the walk.
Download fro the link above, and check if the sound is working while you're online, but please avoid listening to the soundtrack until you begin the walk. (you can also listen online or download soundtrack as smaller file (82.5 MB))
When you start playback take a few moments to experiment with listening at different volumes. You should be able to hear the recorded sound as part of the current soundscape on the island, so it's best to avoid noise cancelling headphones.
During the walk
As a participant in this walk, we invite you to attune to the island using all your senses.
Pay attention to what you notice around you and what effect the surroundings have on your physical and mental states (your moods, thoughts and emotions).
To begin with, stand still and take a few deep breaths. Acknowledge that you have landed on an island that is slowly, imperceptibly rising above the water, in a process called “the post glacial rebound”.
When you start to walk, walk slowly. Slow enough to be able to pay attention to the complex relationships in the environment. Experiment with changing the rhythm of your walking. Notice how you react to a change of pace. If you walk in a group, try to walk in silence, single file or spread out.
Notice the place and surroundings as you walk. From the vastness of the sky to tiny particles of dust; from the shapes of the trees to the shapes of the fences; from the wholes to their parts and back again. Occasionally stop and look around, or close your eyes and sense the sonic, tactile and olfactory textures of the environment. Take this time to be attentive to the landscape and its inhabitants, animate and inanimate. Notice how your experience changes when moving or standing still.
Pay attention to what is going on around you – other humans, also the plants, animals, rocks and water. Notice how you respond to them, without taking any action. Simply allow everything to be as it is. Notice that just by being where you are, you are moving into and out of relationships with multitudes of beings.
After the walk
When your walk comes to and end, take a few moments to reflect on your experience. How did you experience the place, your surroundings, and the various lives unfolding within? Do you have any insights about your relationship with the island?
This sound walk is a work in progress, so your feedback is most welcome! If you do feel up for it, please share your thoughts about the walk with the CAA crew, or contact us at earth at fo dot am
We are particularly keen to hear what you appreciated, and what was challenging; what aspects of the walk you'd like to see more focus on, or what we could improve. As we were unable to test the current composition on the island ourselves (the usual plagues and travel complications) we would be very interested in what you have to share with us about the experience.
Thank you!
Nik & Maja, FoAM Earth
With thanks to Taru Elfving and the CAA for their continued support; Katja Mäkinen for the time series data, ARI sharing their wealth of knowledge and infrastructure during our residency on the island; Kalle Hamm and the Band of Weeds for their recordings of plants.
nik