Amy Jean Barnett | Why is matter so intelligent, though?

Why is matter so intelligent, though? explores the acoustic relationships between reef fish, sea urchins, snapping shrimp and other marine life forms in the Hauraki Gulf, considering the symbiotic interdependencies of these organisms through sound.

Made in collaboration with the Leigh Marine Laboratory, just north of Auckland, this multichannel sound work refers to the temporal trends and biological rhythms native to this marine environment, and asks, what can we learn from these interdependent, self-organising life history strategies?

This exhibition is the outcome of Amy Jean Barnett’s 2019-20 Toi Pōneke New Zealand School of Music Sound Art Residency.