While developing the project, I started looking more closely at theories around listening and spatial perception. One text that became important for me was Acoustic Territories by Brandon LaBelle. In the introduction, LaBelle discusses how sound shapes the way people move through and experience environments. This helped me think about space not as a fixed container, but as something constantly produced through listening and interaction.
I also connected this to Henri Lefebvre’s idea of socially produced space from my essay research. Instead of understanding architecture only visually, I became more interested in how sound influences behaviour, atmosphere and perception. Reading these texts changed the direction of the project away from simple field recording and toward a more focused listening study centred around movement and spatial transition. LaBelle’s writing also influenced my decision to focus more on pacing and movement between recordings rather than dramatic sound events.
Artistically, I also looked at the work of Janek Schaefer, especially how he uses subtle environmental recordings and quiet details to shape awareness of space. One thing that stood out to me was how small sonic details, such as distant footsteps or soft room resonance, could sometimes feel more powerful than heavily edited audio.
At first I thought the project needed more dramatic recordings or complex processing, but researching these artists made me realise that restraint and attentive listening could actually create a stronger spatial experience.
Leave a Reply