This practical artistic research project (Documented Artistic Research Project (Doctoral Thesis)) explores how the performance of acoustic sound in dialogue with site can create a sonic scenography, experienced by an audience from within the sonic structures. 

Six art projects were carried out in the context of this research. Their form varies due to the site-sensitive approach that is employed: the space and the participating musicians are both the source and the frame for the resulting spatial sound performances.

Link to the dissertation and to the research exposition

With Nature Scores Mareike Dobewall expands her research of spaces as collaboration partner towards natural environments. She spends time with natural phenomena, observing patterns situated in time and space, and over time and in relation. She considers this practice as an eco-conscious form of music creation. Placing a strong emphasis on listening with all senses, she relates with nature patterns, and embraces experimentation, curiosity, and affectivity. Mareike aspires to innovate her musical conceptions and notation techniques based on her collaboration with nature. Natural phenomena pose here enigmas and offer propositions.

Recent outputs of this research are the music performances Receptaculum and B-Nature.

Mareike Dobewall published Nature Learning in the Makings Journal Volume 5, Issue 1.

This issue of Makings Journal thinks about education’s relationship to creativity beyond formal educational infrastructures. Titled ‘Gentle Gestures: contexts, spaces and approaches in and beyond the academy’, this issue aims to consider how informal, alternative, fluid or gentle positions of learning (re)articulate where, how and with whom education can happen.

Nature Learning  explores adaptable learning paradigms researched in dialogue with nature. It aligns with Rosi Braidotti's proposition to incorporate non-human elements into knowledge formation processes. Mareike Dobewall's practice as artist and educator, corresponds with the environments it takes place in. She aspires to redefine spaces and methodologies of education. Relating with nature patterns, embracing experimentation, curiosity, and affectivity, observing how patterns in nature shape and change has lead her to innovate her conceptions of music and notation techniques.

Her "Nature scores" emerge as collaborators, instructors, materials. Natural phenomena pose enigmas and offer propositions. She observes, listens, and inquires, and lets the occurrences speak for themselves. She recognizes herein the intrinsic distinctiveness of diverse knowledge forms. Her embodied creative process utilizes Karen Barad's concept of "intra-action" and examines the inherent affect-exchange (direct and indirect).

What can be learnt about learning and teaching in this situation?

Read and experience Nature Learning here