Audiolandscape Strudengau
Digital archive, sound, website, 2017
Audiolandscape Strudengau is an immersive digital art project by Roland Wegerer that captures the essence of the Strudengau region—a wild and romantic stretch along the Danube in Upper and Lower Austria—through a unique combination of sound and photography. This project offers audiences an acoustic walk through a landscape steeped in history and natural beauty, once notorious for its dangerous river currents but now a tranquil, almost secret destination for hikers and enthusiasts of slow tourism.
At the heart of Audiolandscape Strudengau is a digital archive comprising over 100 soundscapes recorded throughout the region. Each audio recording is paired with a photograph taken at the same location, creating a modern, multimedia portrait of the landscape. These pairings are presented on a dedicated website, inviting visitors to experience the Strudengau not only visually but also through its rich and varied acoustic environment.
The soundscapes themselves capture the unique character of the Strudengau: the wild waters of the Danube—now tamed by modern engineering—still resonate with a sense of calm, sharpness, and unstoppable movement. Wegerer’s careful documentation preserves the subtle interplay of natural and human-made sounds, from rushing water and rustling leaves to distant echoes of life along the riverbanks. This sonic archive not only documents the present state of the region but also invites reflection on its historical significance and ongoing transformation.
By combining sound and image, **Audiolandscape Strudengau** creates what Wegerer describes as an “artificial landscape in an auditive way.” The project encourages viewers and listeners to reconsider what it means to experience a place, emphasizing the importance of attentive listening and mindful observation.