Community Engagement Through Creative Technologies
Natural Ecologies artist in resident Nikki Sheth prepares for her showing inside CAVE2 at UniSC. Photo courtesy of Nikki Sheth. Photo John Lucy.
Creative technologies are transforming how artists and communities engage with the world around them. As part of R|Artist Residency: Natural Ecologies, artist Nikki Sheth is leading this exploration, taking her creative process out of the studio and into the real world.
Nikki has been collecting sound recordings from nocturnal wildlife across three Queensland Biosphere Reserve sites, capturing the voices of the night that are rarely heard.
Supported by academics from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Nikki Sheth is incorporating spatial audio, drone photography, and locative media into her practice. These innovative tools offer new ways for artists and the community to connect with and experience nature’s hidden world. Nikki’s work reflects her commitment to fostering a stronger connection with the environment while raising awareness about ecological conservation and climate change.
One Residency, Many Outcomes
Nikki’s residency goes beyond her individual practice—it’s centred on community engagement and knowledge sharing. Through participation in professional development short programs, such as The Refinery’s K'gari Field Trip and an artist talk at the Strange Weather exhibition in the UniSC Gallery, she has introduced creative practitioners and local artists to new applications of cutting-edge technologies.
Nikki has mentored UniSC design students through hands-on projects, including nocturnal recording at Mary Cairncross Reserve and field trips to Maroochy Wetlands. From collecting sound recordings and developing artistic concepts to marketing and documenting the event, the practical skills and experience shared through these exchanges culminated in a student showcase, where application of the entire process was on display.
Engaged by external partners at Sunshine Coast Council, Nikki facilitated an audio guide for the Tenth Annual Australasian Bat Night, allowing audience members to discover the incredible world of bats and the vital role they play in keeping our environment healthy.
Prepare for an adventure
Sharing with others to enhance the impact of this important work adds a different dimension to the usual artist residency and as Nikki states playfully: “It’s a lot less scary than wandering around in the dark by myself.”
Nikki recommends people stay curious when exploring creative technologies and be prepared for the adventure that awaits.
You can get a sneak peek of Nikki's work, Nocturnal Wandering, produced during her Natural Ecologies residency, at UniSC’s CAVE2 on November 21.