'A Hydrogen Daydream' is a new immersive sonic exploration of the climate emergency from the perspective of hydrogen itself. It asks humans working in innovation to think about what they could learn from the elements - particularly hydrogen that does not conform, that flows through, and sees everything. It pushes for the need to shift perspectives around natural resources being perceived as collaborators in innovation. This nods to new ways to embed inclusive design for both nature and humans when shaping the future.
All of the sounds composed are created and inspired using the drone sounds of hydrogen being tested on diesel engines at Brunel University. It incorporates sounds of nature at risk in local areas including the heavily polluted Little Britain Lake, a body of water in which hydrogen lies within. The compositions are created when entering elemental flow-state in collaboration with these hydrogen drones and sounds of nature.
The spatial audio rig has been created to foster a flow-space for collaboration with nature and humans across sectors at a time of siloed-thinking. It is crafted from different discarded materials that were going to go to waste.
With thanks to human collaborators
Seb O’ Connor, Ecological Economist
Dr Shona Koren Paterson, Director of Global Lives Research Centre
Zahra Hdidou, Climate Policy Advisor
Professor Xinyan Wang, Centre of Advanced Powertrain and Fuels
Dr Princewill Ikpeka, Lecturer in Global Challenges
Andy Franzkowiak, Orleans House Gallery
And non-human collaborators collected from water offices
Hydrogen combustion drones, Brunel University
Birds, Polluted Little Britain Lake
This project is part of a growing mission to encourage nature-human collaborations through elemental thinking and flow-state. It has now formed into the organisation Sounding Ground. Its inception was made possible thanks to Arts Council England, Brunel University, VOICE Horizon Europe.
About the Video
The video shows an improvised jam with Hydrogen where we enter flow state;
This is a prototype of interconnectedness through visuals that show hydrogen combusting in a diesel engine. This responds based on the sounds of the piano so we play together. The footage was taken by engineers testing hydrogen at Brunel and combines with the nearby sounds of birds collected from the heavily polluted Little Britain Lake.