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Moving across drawing and sounding : Listening to trees

Tang, Rennie ; Panourgia, Eleni-Ira LU orcid and Sandlos, Lisa (2025) In Drawing: Research, Theory, Practice 10(1). p.123-134
Abstract
Drawing and sounding both rely on bodily movement as a basis for artistic expression. Movement provides the underlying spark that brings both visual and sonic practices to life. As part of a long-term research project titled ‘Sonic Kinesthetic Forest’, this paper reflects on a collaborative exchange between three researchers who use moving, drawing and sounding practices to deepen human relationships with trees. Through this exchange, we developed embodied approaches to drawing using sound and movement prompts to unearth the essence of trees that may be less apparent through representational forms of visual expression. To support this research, our approach was applied within a university seminar called ‘Listening to Trees’ that invited... (More)
Drawing and sounding both rely on bodily movement as a basis for artistic expression. Movement provides the underlying spark that brings both visual and sonic practices to life. As part of a long-term research project titled ‘Sonic Kinesthetic Forest’, this paper reflects on a collaborative exchange between three researchers who use moving, drawing and sounding practices to deepen human relationships with trees. Through this exchange, we developed embodied approaches to drawing using sound and movement prompts to unearth the essence of trees that may be less apparent through representational forms of visual expression. To support this research, our approach was applied within a university seminar called ‘Listening to Trees’ that invited landscape architecture students to tune into the actions, ephemeralities and temporalities of trees. With bodily movement as an underlying impulse, students engaged in a simultaneous performance of sound-making and charcoal drawing (sounding–drawing) to translate the hidden qualities of trees to paper. This research demonstrates that movement can stimulate a dynamic sounding–drawing process through which the sonic kinaesthetic essence of trees can be explored. As an alternative to visually focused representational or scenic views of trees and landscapes, this process aims to offer a multi-sensory mode of expression for engaging with the living world. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
charcoal drawing, Embodiment, ecology, landscape architecture
in
Drawing: Research, Theory, Practice
volume
10
issue
1
pages
123 - 134
publisher
Intellect
external identifiers
  • scopus:105006612377
ISSN
2057-0392
DOI
10.1386/drtp_00157_1
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
abf0b064-65ef-4e15-8818-2ac994ad20e4
alternative location
http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/drtp_00157_1
date added to LUP
2026-05-07 14:05:02
date last changed
2026-06-17 13:43:47
@article{abf0b064-65ef-4e15-8818-2ac994ad20e4,
  abstract     = {{Drawing and sounding both rely on bodily movement as a basis for artistic expression. Movement provides the underlying spark that brings both visual and sonic practices to life. As part of a long-term research project titled ‘Sonic Kinesthetic Forest’, this paper reflects on a collaborative exchange between three researchers who use moving, drawing and sounding practices to deepen human relationships with trees. Through this exchange, we developed embodied approaches to drawing using sound and movement prompts to unearth the essence of trees that may be less apparent through representational forms of visual expression. To support this research, our approach was applied within a university seminar called ‘Listening to Trees’ that invited landscape architecture students to tune into the actions, ephemeralities and temporalities of trees. With bodily movement as an underlying impulse, students engaged in a simultaneous performance of sound-making and charcoal drawing (sounding–drawing) to translate the hidden qualities of trees to paper. This research demonstrates that movement can stimulate a dynamic sounding–drawing process through which the sonic kinaesthetic essence of trees can be explored. As an alternative to visually focused representational or scenic views of trees and landscapes, this process aims to offer a multi-sensory mode of expression for engaging with the living world.}},
  author       = {{Tang, Rennie and Panourgia, Eleni-Ira and Sandlos, Lisa}},
  issn         = {{2057-0392}},
  keywords     = {{charcoal drawing; Embodiment; ecology; landscape architecture}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{123--134}},
  publisher    = {{Intellect}},
  series       = {{Drawing: Research, Theory, Practice}},
  title        = {{Moving across drawing and sounding : Listening to trees}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/drtp_00157_1}},
  doi          = {{10.1386/drtp_00157_1}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}