Silence and Sound
Boundaries of Perception

The relationship between sound and silence is not merely an opposition but a dynamic interplay that shapes our perception of the world. In bioacoustics research, sound is more than a mere vibration; it is a crucial tool in survival, communication, and environmental awareness. Animals navigate their ecosystems through soundscapes, and silence is rarely an absence of sound but rather a shift in acoustic activity—an ecological signal that can indicate safety, danger, or change. From a musical perspective, silence is not emptiness but structure, defining rhythm, contrast, and the perception of form—shaping the listener’s experience as much as the sounds themselves. Whether in analog or electronic approaches, silence plays an essential role in organizing and articulating musical expression, influencing the perception of texture and space, but always in relation to the sounds that frame it. Yet, does true silence exist? Can silence be perceived, or is it always a relative phenomenon? How do these concepts shift when examined beyond a human-centered perspective, considering the auditory worlds of other species or even environments where human perception is absent? In both scientific and artistic contexts, sound and silence are to be considered co-dependent forces, shaping meaning, presence, and our sense of reality itself.

Host: Sarah Miles

Sarah Miles is a music programmer curating the Tune sound series at Haus der Kunst in Munich where she explores the intersection between sound, music, and visual art. She programmed the Roter Salon at Volksbuehne Berlin and co-founded Berlin Community Radio.

Kali Malone & Stephen O'Malley

Kali Malone is a composer and musician whose works implement unique tuning systems in minimalist form for analog and digital synthesis. Stephen O’Malley is a guitarist, composer, and visual artist active in drone and experimental music. Besides their solo careers, they also collaborate as a duo.

Jérôme Sueur

Jérôme Sueur leads the ecoacoustics laboratory at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and is Vice President of the International Society of Ecoacoustics. He is among the pioneers in studying the connections between animal behavior, ecology, and acoustics.