Acoustic Ecology and Feminist Political Ecology of Urban Spaces in Music
“Soundscapes of Female Experience” is a site-specific, transdisciplinary project that integrates recorded sounds from the natural, urban, and social environments of Lake Palić. These soundscape recordings, combined with original instrumental compositions and audio testimonials from senior female residents, create a distinctive auditory experience. The project engaged senior women (aged 60+) in organized group walks along the lake, fostering physical activity, social bonding, and musical appreciation, while evoking memories within social and ecological contexts.
As the composer and project leader, I employed sonic interventions to capture the soundscape of these walks, reshaping the acoustics into a novel auditory experience. The recorded testimonials of the participants coexist within this musical audio walk in the form of compositions for a quintet. Additionally, the “Memory Book” of senior narratives, artistic contributions from local female artists, and critical analyses developed through the project was published. The music and publication were publicly presented in Subotica as a final event, featuring a live concert by the Jasna Jovićević Quinary and a book presentation.
This applied artistic initiative addresses infrastructural, social, and ecological concerns, aiming to reintegrate senior female residents of Palić with their natural and urban surroundings and local history. It promotes their active participation in community cultural activities while examining gender-stereotyped roles amid ecological, social, urban, and political transformations. By exploring global issues through local experiences, the project provides a unique perspective within feminist political ecology.
The memories and experiences of senior women about Lake Palić bear deep cultural and historical significance. They evoke a bygone era when Palić thrived as a recreational center, reflecting the politics, social dynamics, and urban landscape of that time. However, the present reality has witnessed a transformation shaped by various changes, leading to feelings of marginalization among the senior female residents.
