Emergent Fields

BACKGROUND Ambiance research is part of a general movement of openness to the senses. It contributes to the emergence of new frames of sonic awareness and aims to develop a research field of architectural and urban ambiances by exploring the sensory domains of design, technology and lived space (Thibaud). Although Ambiance research has been used to explore the audible effects of wind farms on the environment, it has yet to investigate sub-audible and electromagnetic frequency’s generated by the turbines. CONTRIBUTION Emergent Fields is an audio-visual work that explores electromagnetic frequencies of wind turbines through detailed videography and vibrational sound recordings. Created during a residency at the Hepburn Wind Farm – the first community owned wind farm in Australia – the project expands the field of ambiance research by investigating the sub-audible output generated by wind Turbines. SIGNIFICANCE Emergent Fields was commissioned ($500) by researcher Dr Jordan Lacey for the exhibition ‘Translating Ambience’ at The Yarra Sculpture Gallery. Translating Ambiance formed part of Lacey's DECRA project, specifically focusing on how the environmental ambience of regional sites can be translated into urban spaces. Emergent Fields was subsequently included in the exhibition ‘Post Human Publics’ at RMIT’s Project Space (2020). A radio interview regarding the work and its production was broadcast on Resonance Extra (2019) and also in Eastern Europe on Framework Radio (2019).