Discussion with Listening Session

In resonance-based spatial perception, also known as echolocation or “FlashSonar,” people perceive their environment through sound impulses and their echoes. This enables practical orientation in everyday life, but it also opens up aesthetic perspectives beyond visually dominated orders.

In this listening session and the discussion that follows it, dis/ability studies researcher Siegfried Saerberg, echolocation trainer Juan Ruiz, and media and conceptual artist Dirk Sorge exchange ideas. They reflect on different approaches to resonance-based spatial perception, from the aesthetic and compositional approach of the artist, to the phenomenological and ethnographic thoughts of the researcher, to the pedagogue’s emancipatory practice of mediation.

Excerpts from a number of artistic works will be listened to collectively. In this way, echolocation can be experienced not just as a technique for orientation, but also as an aesthetic practice and an analytical perspective on sound, space, and resonance.

Bios

Siegfried Saerberg (*1961 in Monheim) researches topics within dis/ability studies, participation and inclusion, dis/ability arts, sensory ethnography, as well as digitality and dis/ability. He has curated exhibitions and worked closely with artists, including in 2006 on Terry Fox’s Labyrinth of the Inner Ear.

Dirk Sorge (*1984 in Berlin) works as a media and conceptual artist in Leipzig on topics such as technologization, societal norms, and perception. His works include video, audio, installations, and computer-based projects, which persistently question ableist structures in society.

Juan Ruiz (*1981 in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico) is an echolocation trainer, educator, and Guinness World Record holder based in Vienna. As a Blind expert, he teaches active echolocation (“FlashSonar” / perceptual navigation) for people who are Blind or have Low Vision. He leads trainings, workshops, and professional development sessions on acoustic orientation and mobility, working with children, families, and professionals. His work builds on the technique developed by Daniel Kish and emphasizes a nuanced, multisensory approach to perception and orientation.

Venue

Filmwerkstatt Düsseldorf
Birkenstr. 47
40233 Düsseldorf

The entry is free.
Registration is not required, but welcome.

Accessibility

• Spoken German

• On-site assistance

• Assistant dogs are welcome

• Pick-up service: We are happy to pick you up from the nearest public transport station and can accompany you to the exhibition and event locations. Please contact us in advance to arrange this.

• Early Entry: You are welcome to visit our event spaces before the official start time if needed. Please contact us in advance to arrange this.

• The Filmwerkstatt is only accessible via stairs with a handrail. A limited number of parking spaces are available, and on-site assistance can be provided. A gender-neutral restroom is located directly next to the Filmwerkstatt, and the nearest wheelchair-accessible restroom is in the nearby Philara collection, available on request. Please feel free to contact us in advance if you require assistance. Feel free to get in touch with us beforehand if we can support your visit.