Sonic Acts 2024: Exploring the Senses and Embodied Knowledge in a Changing World

Amsterdam’s Sonic Acts Biennial returns for its 30th anniversary edition from February 2 to March 24, 2024, delving into the power of the senses and embodied knowledge in response to the climate emergency and global geopolitics. Inspired by David Abram’s “The Spell of the Sensuous,” the Biennial explores our interconnectedness with the larger ecology of earth beings.

Taking place across various venues in Amsterdam, the Biennial presents a diverse program of exhibitions, symposia, film screenings, immersive installations, sound walks, workshops, and more. At W139 and Looiersgracht 60, tactile sculptures, video works, and large-scale installations by renowned artists invite visitors to engage with the fluid boundaries between humans and the more-than-human world.

The symposium at the Stedelijk Museum brings together prominent theorists, artists, and researchers to discuss embodied knowledges and urgent climate issues. Sonic Acts welcomes renowned musicians, DJs, thinkers, and artists for a non-stop 60-hour weekend program from February 23 to 25.

At the Muziekgebouw, Sonic Acts presents an array of sound installations and performances, including a recontextualization of Aho Ssan’s album “Rhizomes” into an AV format and a generative installation by Marcin Pietruszewski. The Listening Room at Zone2Source offers multi-channel listening sessions featuring works by Felicity Mangan, KMRU, and others, while the Listening Through Touch concert and conversations at the Bimhuis explore the legacy of Michel Waisvisz.

With its extensive program of art, theory, and technology, Sonic Acts 2024 promises a thought-provoking and immersive experience that challenges our senses and invites us to reflect on our relationship with the environment and each other.