Flow State is a site-specific bathing experience that took place on Herring Island in Naarm’s Birrarung River for RISING Festival, in May 2021. The installation used sound, light, scent and sensation to probe awareness of space and time. This outdoor sonic bathing experience augmented existing soundscapes from the site of the work to create a sensory deep listening experience. Soundwaves in water are heard when they travel through the fluid tissue of the body and vibrate the skull and inner ear nerves. By using two distinct methods of listening — through the air using conventional methods and through water using devices on the interior of the heated bath — this work invited the audience to become conscious of multiple forms of paying attention.

This work was commissioned and presented by RISING Festival Melbourne in 2021.

Creative Team:

Sara Retallick - Lead artist and creative development. Role: concept development, sound composition, installation design and construction.

Amanda Roff - Artist and creative research. Role: site-specific creative development, research and program planning.

Raphael Buttonshaw - Installation technician and design consultant. Role: installation design consultation and assistance, construction assistance and building.