Stijn Demeulenaere / Jan Loctus

MURMUR

Belgium, 2019, 11min 

Brussels was built on a swamp, today there is only one tiny part of Brussels that is still officially a swamp. Although continually threatened by development the area stayed intact largely due to being ensnared between two railroad tracks. Just before first light, filmmaker Jan Locus and sound artist Stijn Demeulenaere recorded the dawn chorus. The city drone permeates the sound of the swamp, and a strange mix enfolds between the sound of an awakening nature and a human presence. Urban drone and bird song merge to an unfamiliar murmur.     

 Jan Locus

The long-term projects of the photographer and filmmaker Jan Locus study the complexity of worldwide, socio-political issues. His photography books include Mongolia, De Bewegende Stad and Devoted. His work has been shown at Noorderlicht Photo Festival Groningen, FOMU Antwerp, Iklectik Art Lab London, De Brakke Grond Amsterdam, Les Rencontre d’Arles, IFFR Rotterdam, DokFest Kassel, International Short Film Festival Oberhausen among others.
He lives and works in Brussels

Stijn Demeulenaere

is sound artist and field recordist. He creates installations, soundscapes, performances, and does sound design for dance and theatre. Stijn researches the relationship between identity, sound and listening. His work was shown at, among others, Concertgebouw Bruges, NIMk (NL), Den Frie (DK), STUK (BE), Kaaitheater (BE), and IKLECTIC (UK). His work was nominated for the LOOP Discovery Award, the European Sound Art Award, and the Engine Room International Sound Art Award.