microworlds

In September 2019, Till set out for a two-week expedition to Kilpisjärvi in the three-nation border between Finland, Norway and Sweden. Here he documented his journey.

The surrounding of Kilpisjärvi is host to many “microworlds” — relatively small places like rocks, small ponds, or streams that gather a relatively big variety of plants, mushrooms and animals around themselves. As a sound artist, I am interested in the biophony and soundscape (“how does it sound?”) of such microworlds. During my Ars-Bioarctica residency at the Kilpisjärvi Biology Station, I searched for such microworlds to listen to them and record what they might hear. I also performed together with them with my electronic live-coding system.

Below is a chronology of the events as they took place and were recorded, collected and curated by me.

on microworlds

on microworlds

Microworlds are semi-isolated habitats and parallel worlds. Microworlds are areas of diversity. Microworlds both host, and are themselves, organisms. In microworlds, boundaries between individuals blur. Narratives can be found by diving into them. Microworlds contain stories around non-human societies that can be uncovered and recorded.

setting the context

setting the context

This will be my 4th time in the Kilpisjärvi area. It is a special place that, since I had the privilege of spending time there for the first time in 2013, I am regularly coming back to it in my thoughts and dreams. At first, Kilpisjärvi seems to be scarce in many respects; With 200km Continue reading setting the context

Saarijärvi

Saarijärvi

On September the 27th, 2016, seven people from different countries and with different backgrounds made their way to the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, invited for an Ars Bioarctica residency. In 2019, I turned my recordings from a day near lake Saarijärvi into a 34min piece that is now part of the microworlds album. microworlds by LFSaw Continue reading Saarijärvi

Preparations

Preparations

Whom will I find? Rehearsing and background research for in-the-field sonic interventions. reading Salonen: Stories told by stones Greye, Bovermann: Instrumentality in Sonic Wild{er}ness, in Musical Instruments in the 21st century — Identities, Configurations, Practices. Beloff, Berger, Haapoja (eds.): Fieldnotes Arlander: Performing landscape Oelschlaeger: The idea of wilderness livecoding setup Photos taken at the Bioart Continue reading Preparations

Microworld 2.3 — Moss and Water

Microworld 2.3 — Moss and Water

A mixture between creek and pond with an enourmous amount of moss and lots of other inhabitants. microworlds (ambiences) by LFSaw An ambience recording at Microworld 2.3. microworlds by LFSaw A track based on Microword 2.3.

First encounters

First encounters

Today is the 4th day of my residency in Kilpisjärvi. I spend a lot of time walking on the fells and “tunturi” (a mountain type typical for Samiland). I searched for microworlds. Until now, I found more than 10. Depending on how much time I had left of the day, I documented them more or Continue reading First encounters