During her EMBracing the Ocean residency, she is focussing on creating a sonic project 'Waves of Resonance' that addresses the psychological impact of climate change and the therapeutic potential of ocean sounds. The project is in collaboration with Marine Severin (Flanders Marine Institute), a psychologist who researches the positive effects of coastal landscapes on mental well-being. They will lead workshops at the Royal College of Art, VLIZ and Espace Croisé (CAC), where participants engage with the evolving sound piece to enrich the creative process and generate valuable data that will shape the soundscape’s final output, while advancing scientific research. In collaboration with acoustic ecologist Clea Parcerisas (Flanders Marine Institute), Elise will address the critical issue of underwater noise pollution by capturing an extensive range of above and below water sounds using various microphones. Additionally, Elise is using photography to document the coastal landscape and the scientific recording processes. As done in previous works of hers, she will develop the photographs using seaweed; a low-toxicity alternative to conventional photographic practice. The research journey of the project finds expression in a printed publication, a research podcast, a video interview and a scientific paper. The project aspires to raise awareness about the sonic impact of climate change and foster a deep emotional connection with the ocean to inspire pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. Following the residency, the project is planned to be shown in various exhibitions.
Aspects of the project will be featured in a film currently being developed by Elise "Untitled Grief and Hope" supported by the Sound Image Culture programme and the Science New Wave Film Fund.
Past events
- Talk at SoAH alumni sessions, Royal College of Art, London (5 August 2024)
- Workshop at Royal College of Art, London (October 3rd 2024)
- Workshop at Day of Marine Science, Ostend, Belgium (24 November 2024)
Upcoming events
- Solo exhibition “Par le corps” (Through the body) at La Chapelle Jeanne d’Arc Centre d’Art Contemporain d’Intérêt National in Thouars, France from 20 March – 22 September 2025. An iteration of Waves of Resonance will be presented in the crypt of the chapel as an immersive sound installation. There will also be a light installation, which mainly includes seaweed from the North Sea, on the ground floor of the chapel. Ocean literacy activities using sound snippets from Waves of Resonance will also be held with youth.
- The opening of "Par le corps" will be held on Saturday, 22nd of March at 11:30am followed by a shared meal. At 3pm there will be a talk with Martial Déflacieux (director of the art center), moderated by Pauline Lisowski (art critic), followed by a screening of Elise's films at Cinéma Le Kiosque.
- Research workshop for Waves of Resonance at La Chapelle Jeanne d’Arc Centre d’Art Contemporain d’Intérêt National on Tuesday 17th June held by Marine and Elise.
- Workshops at Espace Croise, Roubaix, Belgium (dates to be confirmed)
Previous work
- Eventual Horizon film exploring the relationship between the Arctic, grief and hope.
Photo credits:
Left (#1) - Elise Guillaume records the sounds of glacier ice melting in the Arctic using a hydrophone, Svalbard © Tamara Šuša
Left (#2) - "Waves of Resonance" research workshop led by Marine Severin and Elise Guillaume at the Royal College of Art, London, 2024. © Elise Guillaume & John Janssens
Right - Elise Guillaume recording sounds, North Sea 2024 © John Janssens.
Press
We all meet in the Ocean, article by Anna Souter (Writer & curator)
Alice in Warmingland - Last Night Nature Saved my Life
Action for Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters
This project is an action towards achieving the objectives of the European Commission's Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters, specifically contributing to the objective to "Protect and restore marine ecosystems and biodiversity" and the enabler “Public mobilisation and engagement”.