Jana Winderen

The River by Norwegian sound artist Jana Winderen in collaboration with Tony Myatt - the third exhibition in the Museum’s free contemporary art programme – is still open until the 26th January 2025.

The River is a revolutionary new sound installation that will plunge museumgoers and art lovers into an immersive encounter through audio recorded in the depths of the River Thames, a first-of-its-kind exhibition for the Natural History Museum. Upon entering the dimly-lit gallery, visitors can give over their senses to the all-encompassing sound world of the Thames. The work has been composed specifically for the Museum’s Jerwood Gallery and will be presented in close proximity to the river itself.

Recorded by Jana Winderen using specialist underwater hydrophones, the installation will be presented in High-order Ambisonic spatial sound reproduction. From the ambient crackling of gas bubbles at the source by Kemble, the bustling industry of Central London and the sprawling estuary into the North Sea, listeners will experience a huge range of sounds created and heard by aquatic species. These sound environments evolved over millions of years into a finely tuned orchestra of underwater life, but are increasingly disrupted by the imposing noise of human activity, the impact of which we are yet to fully understand.

More information here.

photo: Jana Winderen recording on the River Thames © Trustees of the Natural History Museum