Viki Wen

Secret Garden Album 2.0: Riverside Soundscape

Secret Garden Album 2.0: Riverside Soundscape is an innovative extension of the original Secret Garden Album, now set against the dynamic backdrop of London’s Nine Elms Riverside Walk. This sound art project continues to explore and illuminate the intricate relationships between plants, humans, and the world we share. The original inspiration stemmed from the belief that plants possess a sentient nature akin to humans and animals, aiming to give voice to the individuality of plants through the medium of sound.

In this project, I have meticulously selected a variety of plants from the Riverside Walk, capturing the distinct shapes and sizes of their leaves. Each leaf serves as the foundation for a unique sound, played on a different instrument. The choice of instrument and sound is carefully informed by the leaf’s individual characteristics, creating a diverse and rich sonic palette that mirrors the specific environment of the Riverside Walk.

The process involves recording and synthesizing these individual leaf sounds into a single, harmonious composition. This composition celebrates the riverside ecosystem and pays tribute to the plants that inhabit it, emphasizing the complex interconnectedness of nature within an urban landscape. By blending these natural sounds into an immersive auditory experience, the Riverside Soundscape invites listeners to reconsider their relationship with plants and the natural world, urging them to see it from a refreshed, more interconnected perspective.

Viki WEN is a multimedia artist and visual designer exploring the connections between people and urban spaces through mediums such as sound, performance, video, and installations.  Her work has been exhibited in both London and Hong Kong, showcasing her commitment to creating immersive, multi-sensory experiences that encourage audiences to reflect on and re-examine their relationship with their environment.  Currently, she is pursuing an MFA in Arts and Humanities at the Royal College of Art, where she continues to deepen her research and artistic practice.

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