Georgios Varoutsos
Peace Wall Belfast
December 1st - January 9th, 2021
Sonic Art & Visual Display
Peace Wall Belfast
December 1st - January 9th, 2021
Sonic Art & Visual Display
Divided Spaces
In West Belfast lays the Peace Wall Belfast, a manifestation of multi-faced messages on political, religious, and communal ideals represented by physical properties of cement, metal, fences, gates, and artwork. There have been discussions on initiatives to take down the walls, however, this remains a fragile state. When thinking about the connectivity of the surrounding spaces and communities, the placing of the Peace Wall(s) blocks any opportunity of cross-communication and produces disorienting effects. However, through alternative artistic approaches focusing on sound, there can be innovative capabilities of sharing these stories and spaces with spatial audio techniques. To use spatial audio to change the perception of these spaces brings forth alternative periods of reflections from stimulating another sensory tool other than sight. Forming two unique listening experiences that focus on the virtual abilities to combine auditory spaces into an immersive installation environment and binaural sound-walks to design site-specific augmentation of the sonic properties of the Peace Wall’s surrounding spaces. These projects aim at using spatial audio and artistic practice to plan new approaches for conflict transformation in Northern Ireland.
Divided Spaces (Project 1) by Georgios Varoutsos is an audio immersive piece focusing on the Peace Wall between the Falls and Shankill road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Representing connectivity of spaces and experiences through sound to highlight Past, Present, and Future relations with the Peace Wall(s). It hosts an immersive sonic round-table discussion on controversial issues concerned with the history of the ‘Troubles’ and the status of Peace Wall(s) around the country.
The piece compresses the large surface areas surrounding the Peace Wall into a room listening experience. Demonstrating the separation and isolation from either side’s community spaces.
In West Belfast lays the Peace Wall Belfast, a manifestation of multi-faced messages on political, religious, and communal ideals represented by physical properties of cement, metal, fences, gates, and artwork. There have been discussions on initiatives to take down the walls, however, this remains a fragile state. When thinking about the connectivity of the surrounding spaces and communities, the placing of the Peace Wall(s) blocks any opportunity of cross-communication and produces disorienting effects. However, through alternative artistic approaches focusing on sound, there can be innovative capabilities of sharing these stories and spaces with spatial audio techniques. To use spatial audio to change the perception of these spaces brings forth alternative periods of reflections from stimulating another sensory tool other than sight. Forming two unique listening experiences that focus on the virtual abilities to combine auditory spaces into an immersive installation environment and binaural sound-walks to design site-specific augmentation of the sonic properties of the Peace Wall’s surrounding spaces. These projects aim at using spatial audio and artistic practice to plan new approaches for conflict transformation in Northern Ireland.
Divided Spaces (Project 1) by Georgios Varoutsos is an audio immersive piece focusing on the Peace Wall between the Falls and Shankill road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Representing connectivity of spaces and experiences through sound to highlight Past, Present, and Future relations with the Peace Wall(s). It hosts an immersive sonic round-table discussion on controversial issues concerned with the history of the ‘Troubles’ and the status of Peace Wall(s) around the country.
The piece compresses the large surface areas surrounding the Peace Wall into a room listening experience. Demonstrating the separation and isolation from either side’s community spaces.
About the Artist
Georgios Varoutsos is a sonic artist from Montreal, Canada. He is currently completing his Ph.D. studies in Music at the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC) at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has graduated with a Master’s in Research, Pass with Distinction, in Arts & Humanities with a focus in Sonic Arts at Queen’s University Belfast. He has also completed a BFA with Distinction in Electroacoustic Studies and a BA in Anthropology, both from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
As an artist, he explores the field of sound through an extensive range of projects and performances. His audio creations derive from different inspirations such as field recordings, digital recordings, amplified sound materials, audio processing, synthesis, and experimental techniques. Projects have focused on fixed media, animation soundtracks and effects, performances with CLOrk, and aspects on sonic research. Signature works encompass an unorthodox depiction of audio manipulation in mind of engendering tension and emotional reactions.
His pieces have performed and represented internationally at esteemed festivals such as: klingt gut! International Symposium on Sound (Germany), Sonorities–Festival of Contemporary Music (Northern Ireland), NYCEMF | New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival (United States), Toronto International Electroacoustic Symposium (Canada), Ecos Urbanos (Mexico), and EAST FEST (Canada). He has featured works at gallery exhibitions such as TRIANGULAR by Triangular Project, Polar Vortex by the VAV Gallery, Wire Forest by Art Matters at Studio XX and TIMELESS AND OBSOLETE by DASA at Espace
Georgios is currently merging his various backgrounds of study into research projects comprising immersive audio, sonification, urban arts, sonic arts, and socially engaged arts. This has been presented by using sound as a platform for cultural storytelling.
As an artist, he explores the field of sound through an extensive range of projects and performances. His audio creations derive from different inspirations such as field recordings, digital recordings, amplified sound materials, audio processing, synthesis, and experimental techniques. Projects have focused on fixed media, animation soundtracks and effects, performances with CLOrk, and aspects on sonic research. Signature works encompass an unorthodox depiction of audio manipulation in mind of engendering tension and emotional reactions.
His pieces have performed and represented internationally at esteemed festivals such as: klingt gut! International Symposium on Sound (Germany), Sonorities–Festival of Contemporary Music (Northern Ireland), NYCEMF | New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival (United States), Toronto International Electroacoustic Symposium (Canada), Ecos Urbanos (Mexico), and EAST FEST (Canada). He has featured works at gallery exhibitions such as TRIANGULAR by Triangular Project, Polar Vortex by the VAV Gallery, Wire Forest by Art Matters at Studio XX and TIMELESS AND OBSOLETE by DASA at Espace
Georgios is currently merging his various backgrounds of study into research projects comprising immersive audio, sonification, urban arts, sonic arts, and socially engaged arts. This has been presented by using sound as a platform for cultural storytelling.