Emeka Ogboh «Ethnosphere: Of Land and Memory»

What does an archive sound like when it becomes a living space of resonance?

In the sound installation "Ethnosphere: Of Land and Memory" by Emeka Ogboh, sounds from different contexts enter into dialogue with the surroundings of the garden, opening up new ways of listening.

The work combines archival recordings from the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich with contemporary sound design. Voices, work songs and sounds of nature from the archive intertwine with poetic fragments by voice artist Sarah Quist, creating a soundscape that speaks of cultural memory, labour, landscape and the relationship between humans and nature.

Nigerian artist Emeka Ogboh (*1977) explores in his installations how private, public and collective memories and histories can be translated into sensory experiences. His work has been presented at several major international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale in Italy and the Dakar Biennale.

During the summer months, Ethnosphere can be heard every hour on the hour for 20 minutes in the bamboo grove of the Old Botanical Garden UZH.

"Ethnosphere: Of Land and Memory" was created in collaboration with the Art Collection of the Canton of Zurich at the Cantonal Building Department, the Art x Science Office of the University of Zurich and the Ethnographic Museum UZH.