Synopsis: 2182 kHz is an immersive soundscape composition that offers a multi-sensory exploration of aquatic soundscapes, including biological, geological and anthropogenic sound sources to be experienced at the 4DSOUND system technology. Inspired by the concept of the 2182 kHz radio frequency used in radio distress communication (now obsolete), this sound composition alternates periods of absence and presence of (anthropogenic) noise, revealing potential challenges aquatic fauna face in communicating in these environments disturbed by acoustic pollution.

Presenting an innovative way to experience underwater soundscapes also draws attention to the effect of auditory masking, contributing to the development and inclusion of acoustic ecology and ecoacoustic approaches in an artistic context.

2182 kHz is one of the outputs of a six-month internship as a guest scientist at the IGB Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and an artistic residency at Monom in Berlin, Germany, from May 2021 to January 2022.

The research done during the internship was under the Aquatag project, led by Dr Markus Venohr, who also supervised the interchange and the research project. Field trips for collecting underwater recordings were realised first in various locations around Berlin for a general impression of the local underwater soundscapes. Second, in the last months of the exchange, a particular focus was given to the Müggelsee. The framework, field trips and recordings were realised in collaboration with Viola Schweiger who developed a story map with the selected recording locations as well underwater sound snippets of particular places (check below). IGB facilities are located next to Müggelsee and there is a monitoring station where meteorological, physical and biological data is automatically collected. During the project, the monitoring station was used for experimental recordings.