The Gardens by the Kids was a collaborative project where children from western and inner Sydney worked together to design an immersive experience in outdoor gardens in Granville and Erskineville. The Kids turned these public gardens into immersive, site-specific installations, using sound and art experiences that tell stories and invite everyone to listen more closely to the world we share.
Over a five week period, the Kids were taught the basics of sound and video. Armed with a camera and microphone, they recorded their surroundings - layering field recordings, musical instruments, and voice together. The result:
The Prodigy
Electronic dance track with animated video
Electronic dance track with animated video
The Prodigy is an electronic dance track created by the Kids’ using a curated collection of their favourite sounds from online culture, mixed with the urban landscapes of Sydney. The song is filled with beats from their favourite viral songs, audio recordings of silly moments between friends, and sampled sounds from Gadigal and Darug lands. Blending all of these elements together, we created an audible time capsule and ode to the Kids.
Accompanying the song is an animated video that was shot entirely by the Kids. They were given a prompt of filming everything they like to do in parks. The response being playing sport, dancing, playing games, and rolling down grass hills.
The Prodigy song, 1:49mins
The Prodigy video, 1:45mins
Interactive Orchestra
MIDI controller with sourced sounds by the Kids
MIDI controller with sourced sounds by the Kids
Guests who attended the events at Solander Park in Erskineville (26/7/2025) or Bangor Park in Granville (9/8/2025) were invited to experiment with electricity and flowers to create their own experimental soundscapes using touch. This interactive orchestra used sounds created by the Kids to allow audiences to imagine what their surroundings could sound like if we could hear everything - including what the plants are singing.
Solander Park
Solander Park
Solander Park
Bangor Park
Bangor Park
Bangor Park
Interactive Orchestra at Solander Park, Erskineville
Creative Producer: Claudia Chidiac
Textile Artist: Nicole Barakat
Podcast Artist: Lem Zakharia
Sound and Video Artist: San May
Guest Curator: Paschal Berry
Textile Artist: Nicole Barakat
Podcast Artist: Lem Zakharia
Sound and Video Artist: San May
Guest Curator: Paschal Berry
In collaboration with The Kids from Granville East Public School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School.
The Gardens by the Kids was made possible with support from Creative Australia.
