Audio transcript for The River
Hello and welcome to this audio recording for The River, an underwater sound composition by Jana Winderen in collaboration with Tony Myatt. This recording includes the exhibition’s introduction and exit panel text.
The River is a free art installation developed specifically for the Jerwood Gallery. You are free to drop in and out, and to stay for as long as you wish. During your visit, you will experience the artwork in a minimalist setting with low light levels and comfortable seating.
We have other access resources available – please ask a member of staff in NHM uniform if you need assistance.
Introduction panel
Step into the world of sound artist Jana Winderen as she listens to what lies beneath the surface of the River Thames. Recorded entirely underwater, this sound installation, crafted in collaboration with spatial audio specialist Tony Myatt, reveals a rich tapestry of sounds echoing through these waterways.
In freshwater ecosystems, sound is one of the ways animals detect food, communicate, and reveal their presence. These sound environments evolved over millions of years into a finely tuned orchestra of underwater life, one which is increasingly disrupted by the noise of human activity.
Composed especially for the Natural History Museum, Jana Winderen’s artwork captures the Thames’s essence through hydrophone recordings taken from its origins to its sprawling estuary. The sounds of mammals, fish, insects and crustaceans living beneath the surface meet the noise of the people who live, work and play within and above it.
The following is a quote from Jana Winderen:
‘When I lower the hydrophones into the river, another sound-world appears: the stridulation of underwater insects, ticking of plant photosynthesis, grunts of fish, and sounds from mammals, including us. We dominate the soundscape during daytime, but when you listen carefully, in less populated areas or when most people are sleeping, you can enter this exciting world of underwater sound.’
About the artists
Jana Winderen is a sound artist, composer and underwater sound recordist from Norway, whose work draws on her background in mathematics, chemistry, and fish ecology. She focuses on capturing audio environments typically inaccessible to humans, whether deep underwater, inside ice, or at frequencies beyond human hearing.
Tony Myatt is a sound engineer, artist and academic based in England. He specialises in spatial audio production – the creation of three-dimensional sound projections for sound installation art, film and live audio performances.
Exit panel
The Natural History Museum is dedicated to researching and revealing the beauty of the natural world. Through initiatives such as Fixing Our Broken Planet, we engage contemporary artists to explore urgent planetary issues and invite reflection on the delicate balance between natural rhythms and human impact.
Read more about the artist’s work, engage with our Nature Overheard study, and discover more Thames-related stories on our dedicated webpage, nhm.ac.uk/the-river.
Fixing Our Broken Planet
This exhibition is part of the Natural History Museum’s art programme, which focuses on the planetary emergency through the work of contemporary artists. The art programme is part of Fixing Our Broken Planet, a series of global events, exhibitions and digital happenings discussing our relationship with the natural world, and why it needs to change.
nhm.ac.uk/fixing-our-broken-planet
Acknowledgements
Developed and produced by the Natural History Museum with Jana Winderen and Tony Myatt
Supported by
Jerwood Foundation
The John S Cohen Foundation
Exhibition development and scientific expertise
Natural History Museum
Exhibition design
Natural History Museum
Sarah Huckstepp
Graphic design
Natural History Museum
Lighting design
DHA Designs
Luminance Lighting Design
Exhibition build and management
EXIB
Natural History Museum
Graphics production
Displayways
Audio equipment
Autograph Sound