Mikel R. Nieto

Artist, occasional curator, and independent researcher.

His work is mainly focused on the study of the various sociocultural and political aspectsthat arise from the act of listening. Listening as a source for the sonic creation of specific situationsand as a source for critical thinking and open listening.

He has collaborated for years with Audiolab at Arteleku in San Sebastián on projects such as”Soinumapa”, the Sound Map of the Basque Country, and “Hots! Radio”. He is part of the platform”Mediateletipos”, writing several texts on sound, noise, listening, and musical networks. During theEuropean Capital of Culture held in Donostia/San Sebastián (2016), he curated and coordinated”The Observatory of Listening” in collaboration with José Luis Espejo and Xabier Erkizia.

He has written numerous texts and two books dedicated to the soundscape. The first, printed in blackon black, called “Dark Sound” has been described as the “dark book of the soundscape” and compilesa research conducted in Yasuní National Park located in the Ecuadorian part of the Amazon rainforest. His second book, in collaboration with anthropologist Tim Ingold and philosopher CarmenPardo, called “A soft hiss of this world” was printed in white on white and focuses on the relationshipbetween the loss of snow in Finnish landscapes and its consequences on the disuse of vocabulary. Both books have been published by the German label Gruenrekorder.For years he has created specific sound designs for contemporary dance works incollaboration with Jone San Martin, who worked with William Forsythe for more than 20 years at theBallet Frankfurt and The Forsythe Company.

He has also collaborated with Pascal Merighi and Thusnelda Mercy, who likewise worked for Pina Bausch for many years. He continues to work regularly for the world of contemporary dance. 

https://mikelrnieto.net/