BEACHGOERS at Flinders this summer are being invited to experience the ocean in an unexpected way – not just by looking at it, but by listening closely.
A new site-specific artwork titled Deep Sound will unfold in and alongside the waters of Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary on Saturday 24 January, transforming the familiar coastline into an immersive soundscape.
Created by Mornington Peninsula–based artist Janenne Willis, the work blends art, ecology and sensory exploration, encouraging audiences to tune into the hidden acoustic life of the sea.
Using hydrophones placed beneath the water’s surface, Willis has captured the subtle and complex sounds of underwater life from currents and movement to marine communication. These recordings are woven together with spoken word and original music, amplifying a world that usually goes unheard.
Visitors can experience Deep Sound in two ways. The ocean-side experience is free and open to all, allowing people to walk along the reef and shoreline as the sound composition unfolds around them.
For confident swimmers, a more immersive in-ocean experience is also offered in small, pre-booked groups, though these sessions have already reached capacity.
According to Willis, the project is about more than sound alone.
“This work is about listening as a form of relationship,” she said.
“The ocean is always communicating. Deep Sound invites us to slow down and tune in – to remember ourselves as part of a much larger, living system.”
Set within protected waters, Deep Sound also highlights the ecological significance of the local marine environment. By drawing attention to the richness beneath the surface, the work encourages care, stewardship and respect for fragile coastal ecosystems.
The installation marks the fourth and final live presentation in the Deep See Survey artist collective’s 2025–26 program. Designed as an outdoor, weather-responsive event, Deep Sound allows visitors to arrive and leave at their own pace, responding to the changing conditions of sea and shore.
The event will take place from 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 24 January 2026 at Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary.
First published in the Mornington News – 13 January 2026
