Join us for our first event of 2025, and immerse yourself in the sounds of nature as captured by two New York-based sound artists.

Nikki Lindt will present The Underground Sound Project, a collection of subterranean acoustic recordings made in collaboration with NYC Urban Field Station Collaborative Arts Program, USDA Forest Service, NYC Parks and The Nature of Cities. The recordings were made in Prospect Park, other natural areas within the five boroughs of NYC and in rural Cherry Valley, NY. The work explores and reveals the world of underground sound that can be heard under our feet. Did you know deep, resonant dramatic sound can be heard inside trees? Among the roots of plants, in shifting soils, in streambeds, rivers, oceans, and even in mud? Underground acoustics tell us a lot about the soils beneath us, but also about ourselves. Our human created sounds often affect this subterranean world in unexpected ways and places.

Swiss composer and sound artist Julian Zehnder will present a performance based on his work Midsummer Dreams, inviting you to enter a realm where environmental sounds and musical forms converge in a mesmerizing sonic performance. The space transforms under the force of sound and adjusts to heavy thunderstorms, gentle rains and harmonious moments in the countryside. In this auditory experience simple sounds like the tinkling of a bell or the rustling of a foil, awaken a tapestry of sonic sensations. Just like the cycles of weather ebb and flow, the soundscapes are ever-evolving, dynamic, and resplendent with life. Within this immersive experience, a living composition emerges, where the union of sound and environment aims to forge a profound connection to the source of life.

After the presentations, join us for a networking reception.

This event is part of Swissnex for the Planet, an initiative which aims to address the delicate balance between human and nonhuman interests on Earth. As science reveals the deepening rifts in our relationship with the planet, ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss, Swissnex for the Planet explores new forms of diplomacy that prioritize a harmonious coexistence of all life.