It all started with a set of old microphones and an old recorder trying to capture the sonic memory of a place and not being able to hear what I believed I was supposed to hear. My exploring different ecosystems to find what I wanted to hear but couldn’t … just because I wasn’t listening.
This talk, is a reflection on my sound art exploration, through my practices as an eco-acoustic field recordist, to confront the perception and our connection with the natural environment.

Guillaume Rouseré is a French Sound Artist based in Doha. Exploring perception through sound, his work is related to our relation with nature, humanity, spaces and memory. Rouseré expresses his emotions and perceptions of the contemporary world through his work as a simple witness of our society.

Rouseré has been an Artist in residence at Doha Fire Station, where he exhibited some of his internationally noticeable works including “Dhow Conversation”, 2018, an installation inspired by the Arabian boat.

In June 2020, “Allow Me…” a public art piece was commissioned by Qatar Museums Authorities and Qatar Rail Mushereib Metro Station. Rouseré’s work translates into sculptural form an audio recording of the poignant and unforgettable speech delivered by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the opening of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2017.

Guillaume is also known for his deep listening installation and for its activation of space with meaningful sound like in 2021 with his contribution to the “DreamScape” installation in Mushereib. He recently presented work internationally at the UNESCO HQ Paris (Sept 22).

His latest work, presented at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, “The World As We Know It Is Changing”, is an immersive sound installation, as well as a projection of water reflection reacting to sound. This piece explores the struggle of preserving nature in a world getting more and more urban. It is also underpinning the fragility of fresh water resources.