Tallo Billa: Deep Listening at Dusk

the facilitators

Lyndon Davis (Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi) is an internationally acclaimed artist, educator and cultural performer. Born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Davis’ arts practice represents his deep connection to Country. His artwork is inspired by traditional pat- tern work on shields and other artefacts produced by his ancestors and the designs painted on their bodies during ceremony. His art also incorporates geometrical and symmetrical patterns representing those found in nature and coastal landscapes. Most recently, Davis has been making work that visualises the calls of different species on Kabi Kabi Country using cymatics, the science of visualising acoustic energy or sound. Lyndon’s first solo exhibition at UniSC Art Gallery brought together painting, objects, moving image and sound to consider the way Davis’ practice is grounded in communicating the importance of custodianship and caring for Country. Lyndon is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast.  

Dr Leah Barclay is a sound artist, designer, and researcher who works at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Leah’s research and creative work investigates new methods in ecoacoustics, exploring the soundscapes of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to inform conservation, scientific research, and public engagement. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, and her work has been commissioned, performed, and exhibited to wide acclaim internationally by organisations including the Smithsonian Museum, UNESCO, Ear to the Earth, Streaming Museum, Al Gore’s Climate Reality, and the IUCN. Leah leads several research projects including Biosphere Soundscapes and River Listening, which focus on advancing the field of ecoacoustics. The design of these interdisciplinary projects is responsive to collaborating communities and involves the development of new technologies, including remote sensing devices for the rainforest canopy and hydrophone recording arrays in aquatic ecosystems. Leah is the Discipline Lead of Design at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where she is also co-leading the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster.  

Dr Tricia King is a researcher in creative arts health projects for wellbeing focusing on creative engagement with older adults through photographic and creative practices. Utilising lens-based techniques such as photo voice, photo-elicitation, documentary and collaborative photography, Tricia develops collaborative participant driven projects anchored in ethically focused research methods and underpinned by friendship and reciprocity. Her work predominantly focuses on older people living in aged care and people living with dementia to explore their lived experience, enhance well-being and help develop programs to assist with greater socialisation and communication. Tricia’s creative practice explores interdisciplinary place-based projects which investigate how remote embodied experiences of natural environments can facilitate ecological empathy, cultural knowledge, and connection to place. Tricia is a Lecturer in Photography at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where she is also co-leading the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster.