about
a noisy silence was founded in 2013 by sound artist Richard Bentley as a vehicle for supporting wellbeing, building community and caring for our environment.
There's more about Richard below and our team here.
artist statement
My composition and participatory practice explore contemplative approaches to sound art, underpinned by insights from the fields of sound studies and contemplative studies. Care-full listening, field recording and documentation typically provide the ‘raw material’ for creative responses, often cohering around themes of silence, presence and simplicity, as well as inter- and trans-personal connection. My work frequently integrates participatory practices that engage others in mindful listening, connecting them with the soundscape, cultivating awareness of sound’s physical and affective power, whilst providing opportunities to reflect upon its personal and collective meanings.
bio
Grounded in contemplative sound art practice, Richard’s work encourages us to listen more care-fully to the soundscape and to ourselves. He uses listening exercises, field recording and sound-making to support wellbeing, build community and connect with both natural and built environments. Richard’s output includes soundscape composition, soundwalks, writings, interviews, radio, podcast and video productions, multi-channel sound installations, music, mixes and a variety of interactive works.
Richard has a PhD in Sound Art following a Masters Degree in Community Arts at Goldsmith's University of London. He is a qualified Music Production lecturer with twenty years experience working in Further and Higher Education (Oxford Brookes University and University of West London) and twelve years experience delivering workshops in schools and a range of community settings. Complementing his personal contemplative practice and sound-for-wellbing projects, Richard is employed part-time as a Buddhist Healthcare Chaplain at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, working closely with the Palliative Care team and Berkshire Cancer Centre to offer contemplative care for patients. Richard is an Oxford Mindfulness Foundation trained teacher and facilitates weekly mindfulness sessions for staff and volunteers at the hospital.
In addition to his personal practice, Richard has gathered together a collective of artists and related professionals to develop participatory workshops, soundwalks, and wellbeing initiatives as well as producing audio tours, music and sound works. Over the past twelve years, the team have worked on commissions for a range of clients in the health and wellbeing, nature conservation, heritage, arts and education sectors, including; The Woodland Trust, Historic England, The Ashmolean, Crisis, Reading University, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Intelligent Health, The Roald Dahl Museum, Sound UK, Nature Nurture, The Annual Daydream Harvest and Barrow Dock Museum.