Lasse-Marc Riek

A Sound Atlas from Four Points of the Compass

In northern Thuringia, on the southern edge of the Hainleite, lies the small village of Kannawurf in Germany. In recent years, efforts have focused not only on restoring and redesigning Kannawurf Castle and its immediate surroundings but also on rethinking how the landscape around it is managed. Numerous initiatives and projects aim to consciously and actively contribute to the ongoing transformation of the landscape. The project "KlangKompassKannawurf" was created in this context.

Every place has its own distinct sound, and every situation sounds different. The method of "soundwalking," developed from the Canadian soundscape movement, involves exploring environments, places, and situations by focusing on their sounds. By sensitizing our sense of hearing, new perspectives and impressions of the spaces we walk through are revealed. What does the environment around Kannawurf sound like, and what specific sound locations exist there? In response to these questions, Riek roamed through the landscape with open ears, microphones, and sensors at different times of the year, capturing the sounds of various locations. Beginning at Kannawurf Castle, four key sound locations were sonified and transformed into compositions. These compositions can be listened to as part of the project. During the festival, Riek also performed a temporary sound performance at the ruins of Sachsenburg Castle.

1. Soundwalk „Obere Sachsenburg“ 20:48 Min.

2. Soundwalk „Hainleite Höhe Kannawurf“ 21:52 Min.

3. Soundwalk „KlangRaum Kindelbrück“ 25:52 Min.

4. Soundwalk „Windkraftpark Sprötau“ 14:24 Min.

The Künstlerhaus Thüringen e.V., in close cooperation with the Akademie der Künste Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. , organized the symposium RESONANZEN_ Landschaft/Natur und Kunst im Kontext from 2019 to 2022. This event brought together scientific lectures and artistic contributions on the theme of landscape. The accompanying book compiles all the lectures and artistic works presented during the symposium, as well as the outcomes of a subsequent art project by eight artists.

Photo credits: Wieland Krause, Thomas Blase, Elli-Mia Riek, and Matti-Luca Riek