Saline Atmosphere

Immersive Soundscape, 5th International Kim Whan Ki Art Festival “Wind from South”, Sinan, South Korea

The festival theme “Wind from the South” establishes a direct connection to one of Sinan’s defining specialities: sea salt. Without the gentle force of subtropical winds and summer sun, the manual harvesting of sea salt would not be possible. The seasonal climate shapes the maritime landscape along Korea’s south-west coast – the islands turning with the tides, the humming insects, the flora and fauna of the tidal flats all responding perceptibly to daylight, temperature and the moist, salt-laden air. “Saline Atmosphere” transforms their soundscape into an immersive soundscape composition of persistent winds and waves, ebb and flow, shimmering air over mudflats and salt marshes, and the sounds of people at work during the salt harvest. Sounds that are unmistakable – yet easily overlooked by the accustomed ears of island residents in the flow of daily life. Sacks of original Jeung-do sea salt within the installation ensure that the maritime atmosphere is not only audible but can also be breathed and touched – a multisensory experience of South Korean island life.