Białowieża, by Chris Watson and Izabela Dłużyk

Presented as part of Unsound New York 2024, Białowieża is a newly commissioned work that Izabela Dłużyk created in collaboration with noted British sound artist and field recordist Chris Watson. It is based on field recordings made in Białowieża Forest—Europe's last remaining primaeval forest, located on the border between Poland and Belarus. In recent times, the forest has become a contentious place, initially due to logging; since late 2021, scores of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and South Asia have attempted to go through the forest and cross from Belarus into Poland and the European Union. Many have either died within the forest during this journey, or they’ve been pushed back by Polish guards. Additionally, a metal wall has been constructed to divide the forest, which has become a symbol of wider geopolitical tensions. This intense location provides the grounding for Białowieża, in which the natural and unnatural sounds of the forest have therefore taken on newer more shadowy layers of meaning. The installation is free of charge, and will run on the hour every hour between 12 midday and 6pm.

Białowieża premiered at Unsound’s sister festival Ephemera in Warsaw earlier this year. The project was commissioned by Unsound, Atonal, Semibreve and Sónar as part of the TIMES Platform.