All our relations : an exhibition of biophonic worlds

The All our relations: an exhibition of biophonic worlds project (AOR) is a presentation that responds to the thematic: Community, Education and Culture of WCMS2026. It arises from ongoing research and creative practices at the intersections of art, music, ecological and marine sciences particularly substantiated this summer through the Biophonics workshop at the BMSC; the Artscience fellowship at Ocean Networks Canada (ONC); and the Protégé program at the UBC’s EOAS. Embedded within each of these programs are creative explorations in sound (data sonification), musical and multi-sensory activities that will inform the artistic practices of a curated international group of musicians, visual artists and students (2x Chilean artists from Protégé program, 12x students and 4x sound/media artists with ONC). For WCMS2026, this presentation is envisioned as a curatorial presentation of creative work arising from interdisciplinary connections of scientists and artists. Where permissible, we hope to stage aspects of these during WCMS at BMSC e.g. piano pieces at the Rix centre, or temporarily installed multi-channel sound indoors and/or outdoors. The central focus of AOR is to emphasize relational and ecological dimensions at the coastline through sound: how humans perceive, interact with, and are shaped by the sonic environment - in particular facilitated on the one hand by a growing network of offshore bioacoustics sensors, and on the other, the resurgence of ecological, intergenerational, and spiritual narratives led by Indigenous members and artists from the Global South. Grounding this project in site-specific activities of recording, analyzing and storying sounds with bioacoustics researchers and local Huu-ay-aht First Nations community members over summer, AOR will culminate in a series of listening and composition processes during the Biophonics workshop in Aug at BMSC. A subsequent exhibition of resulting sound works is planned for the First Nations House at Uvic and Hourglass gallery (downtown Victoria).