About the artist
Celia Yang’s sound of belonging recounts a return to her Chinese village home during the pandemic and the familiar comforts of birdsong and rain near a new protected national wetland park in the middle of a growing city. (4:50)
Celia Yang is a Tonmeister and sound artist whose research integrates acoustic ecology, spatial technologies and participatory design. She investigates how sound connects urban spaces and communities, using workshops, immersive experiences and psychoacoustic studies to promote ecological awareness, foster collective belonging and prioritize sonic well-being in urban planning.
Audio transcript
I found it difficult to develop a sense of belonging after leaving home and crossing the Pacific Ocean for almost a decade. Most of my teenage years were spent in the United States. My hometown, Shenzhen, a place where reputation for constant and profound changes, is well known. New buildings seem to sprout up every year, reshaping the landscape.
When I flew to Hong Kong Airport and passed through the customs border to enter Shenzhen, the taxi drivers always took me on a different route, altering my perspective of the city every time I returned home. As a result, I often struggle to recognize the place that once lived, rent free, in my mind. However, amidst the disorientation, I discovered a sense of happiness as I realized that certain things remained unchanged and embedded in this modern city.
The sounds of birds and animals in my neighborhood became familiar and comforting. Additionally, our urban planning was evolving, and this progress was beautifully exemplified by the creation of a wetland park in what was previously, and still remains, the most expensive land one could afford in this area.
On December 25th, 2020, it achieved official recognition as a national wetland park after passing the acceptance inspection conducted by the national Forestry and Grassland Administration. It felt as if I had returned home at precisely the right moment in 2021 when this transformation was unfolding. This wetland park became my sanctuary during the COVID-19 lockdown. It offered a remarkable and unique experience for the people of Shenzhen who are accustomed to the constant clamor of construction traffic and impatient crowds. In the time where efficiency dominates our lives, living no room for a moments past to appreciate the environment, we found ourselves confined to limited spaces.
However, within the boundaries of this wetland park an oasis of tranquility emerged. The sounds of animals and nature were amplified, replacing the usual anthropocentric sounds that normally consumed our senses. It was a precious opportunity to reconnect with the natural world and listen attentively to the soothing symphony of wildlife that surrounded us.
It’s amusing to note that the frogs in the path downstairs in our community, were relocated due to their overwhelming nocturnal performances, which disturbed the residents’ sleep. They had to be separated from some families so that we could all strive for a balanced life within this ecosystem.
I spent a year this time at home, take my time listening to the rain, smell the humid vegetation, walk around the community. To truly love a city, you must venture beyond its borders and explore the wider world. The countdown serves as a reminder, to savor at the present moment. To leave the city, I have to start the literal farewell a few months ahead. But perhaps to love the city, you have to leave it.