Sonic Wells off-site project 2008

SONIC WELLS is a Site Specific Public Art Project by Allan Giddy 

Launch - Ryan’s Bar, Casement Square, Cobh 8pm Saturday 13^th & Mercantiles Hotel, Sydney, Australia 11am Sunday 14^th September 2008

Allan Giddy

Wells, water holes, hot springs and billabongs were until recently central meeting points for communities worldwide. Two ‘sonic wells’ have been built one in Cobh, the other in Sydney, creating a virtual hole (12,720 kilometers long) through the Earth connecting Ireland with Australia. Each well will collect ambient sounds which, transmitted live, will be emitted from its sister well. Thus, for instance, people seated around the well in Cobh will hear live audio as it is incident at the well in Sydney, and vice versa.


Created by Australian based New Zealand artist Allan Giddy this site specific installation investigates how wells, water holes, hot springs and billabongs have, until recently, been central meeting points for communities worldwide. Two ‘sonic wells’ have been built; one in Cobh, the other in Sydney, creating a virtual hole (12,720 kilometers long) through the Earth connecting Ireland with Australia.

Each well will collect ambient sounds which, transmitted live, will be emitted from its sister well. Thus, for instance, people seated around the well in Cobh will hear live audio as it is incident at the well in Sydney, and vice versa.

Cork Harbour Project, Beyond the Myths is a dynamic exhibition including a public seminar, a site specific installation, walking tour and schools project was developed through a series of interactive meetings and workshops/laboratories supported by Sirius Arts Centre’s artist in residence programme. International and local artists, community groups, experts in natural history and representatives from the local authority were brought together with the aim of raising awareness about this unique natural habitat.

Cork Harbour Project, Beyond the Myths is the first phase of projects drawn from these laboratories.  The resulting projects are a reflection of unique partnerships formed during the 2007 laboratories.