Mareike Dobewall is a Stockholm-based multidisciplinary artist whose practice includes directing, scenography, music making and composition and visual arts, which she employs to create experiences. Often collaborating with musicians to challenge conventional notions of sound and space, Marieke came to Newington as Concordia Gallery’s Artist in Residence in Term 2, through her participation in the international research group, the Society for Artistic Research: Artist Pedagogy alongside Concordia curator Hannah Chapman. 

Marieke led the inaugural Concordia Gallery Co-education Project which consisted of four sessions throughout the term, and continued Newington’s community connection with other local art students. Two classes of Year 9 Students from Burwood Girls Photographic and Digital Media Course and two classes of Year 9 Newington College Visual Arts students learnt together about sound art and using their own body and breath to make artworks.  

The sound workshops took place in Concordia Gallery, Newington College Chapel and the Practice Music Hall. During her classes, Mareike taught the students skills in making music, engaging them in improvisational games responding to the architectural surroundings and finally composed a score for students to perform.  

The students also learned the history of experimental graphic scores to record and interpret music. As the culmination of the Residency, Mareike took the four individual classes into the recording room and then mixed their voices into one beautiful sound artwork. There was also a small showcase of the students’ graphic scores hanging on the wall of Concordia Gallery at the final gathering where the sound piece was played.  

Some students reflected on what they had learnt in the process. Mia from Burwood Girls said, ‘I used to think sounds operated individually and now I understand they can work together to make compositions.’ 

‘The workshops have made me pay attention to the sounds that surround me and appreciate the potential of how they could make music,’ Ellis, from Newington, commented. 

‘The process of recording sounds on paper to make graphic scores has helped me find some sounds less overwhelming. I liked learning how to make my own notes,’ added Ashan – also from Newington. 

Thank you to Amy Yongsiri, Head of Creative Arts at Burwood Girls for your enthusiastic involvement in the project and at Newington College Andrew Thompson, Head of Visual Arts Department and Ben Soedradjit, Visual Arts Teacher.