Georgios Varoutsos, Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC), Queen’s University Belfast

Divided Spaces 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.

The Peace Wall Belfast Soundwalks Presentation* is a binaural immersive experience with six soundscapes composed to highlight relationships between realism and perception. These are based on different sonic markers or events occurring in the areas of the Peace Wall Belfast, in Northern Ireland. The intention is to engage with specific areas around the wall to encourage new understandings, as well documents perception of sounds usually overlooked. Ultimately, these soundscapes question how we listen to what we’re seeing, and what we’re seeing is it being heard?

*Please note, all presentations are for academic and research viewing purposes only and cannot be posted in the public domain or used in part or full on any other media platforms or social media sites.   All rights are reserved and held by Participants. For more information regarding licensing/permisssions usage and queries, please contact our Project Manager, Christina Captieux c.captieux@qub.ac.uk  

The Conference was organised as part of the AHRC/ESRC funded Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security Research project Sounding Conflict: From Resistance to Reconciliation 2017-2021.