Art Office

With 'Listening to the cracks', artist Matthias Hurtl explores the gap between human and non-human, in particular by listening to non-human animals in an urban environment. In Western societies there is a clear dichotomy between humans and animals, with humans believing themselves superior to non-human animals. On top of this, humans have a hierarchical classification, with mammals ranking higher than birds and insects. The distance created by this anthropocentric view has caused animal species to become extinct, often without us realizing it. Hurtl wants to look for ways in which human and non-human animals can form a bond, without putting humans first. Hurtl uses artistic and scientific sonic tools and methods and applies them in an urban environment. What do you hear when you listen to the cracks of the city, when you highlight and distinguish different participants in the acoustic domain? Can power relations be challenged in this way? To challenge the traditional hierarchy in the animal kingdom, Hurtl first focuses on insect and bird sounds. The project leads to new work that contains elements of soundwalks, field recordings and audiovisual work. The advisory committee is confident in a good outcome, given the combination of the theoretical and practical line and the experience of the artist.