The Nature of Us

The Nature of Us is an immersive, site-specific sound installation conceived by Kevin Jesuino, Jean-Louis Bleau, and Cassette Bessette. Originally created in collaboration with TRAction, ARTIO Choir, and the Mount Royal University Choral Association, this project explores the profound interdependence between humanity and the natural world.

The project is rooted in the philosophy of Queer Ecology. This framework posits that queerness, defined as fluidity, diversity, and resistance to rigid categorization, is woven into the fabric of the natural world and human existence.

The sound score, created during a local residency is installed in a section of a public park. The work invites audiences to experience a powerful surround-sound composition that challenges human-centric perspectives and celebrates the ecological truth that nature is fluid and non-binary.

The score intentionally engages and features recorded voices from the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community. These voices are integrated to create compelling soundscapes, monologues, and choral music. By drawing from principles of queer ecology, this partnership highlights the crucial link between human and ecological diversity, actively building an archive of this region and it’s rich complexity.

The installation's outdoor location is fundamental: it creates a collaborative sonic experience with nature that models interdependence. The pre-recorded human voices are blended with the park's ambient sounds (birds, trees, water, wind), transforming the landscape into an acoustic portal. This sonic weave intentionally explores the inherent consonance and dissonance between human culture and the natural world. This weaving of elements encourages listeners to reject the idea of naturalness as a rigid standard, fostering a deep, empathetic connection with the ‘more-than-human’ world. The piece expands awareness and builds a living archive of the region's unique biota, offering a reflective journey into the interdependence of all living things.

​Created by Kevin Jesuino, Cass Bessette, Jean Louis Bleau

Prairie Choral Performers: Grayson Mannella, Maddie Aldridge, Ben van Dierendonck, Astrid Janzen, Josh Bedard, Liz Gieselmann, Alex Chumley, Justine Cherry-Delisle, Quinn Smith, Rayne Roussell, Paula Midori Niecker.
Featuring drummer/vocalist Chantal Changnon.