Bow Skills workshop: listening and sound meditation as a research method for artistic creations with Dr. Hoi Shan Anson Mak
Wednesday 13th May 2026 , 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Usually, we rely heavily on looking to understand a place or its inhabitants; what about listening? How does listening help create visual art? Join moving image and sound artist and Oxford Mindfulness Foundation trained mindfulness teacher Dr. Hoi Shan Anson Mak for a reflective and interactive session using listening and sound meditation as a research method for artistic creations.
In this workshop, Anson will explain the basic principles of sound such as frequency, amplitude and speed, plus “The Three Listening Modes” by Michel Chion: causal listening, semantic listening, and reduced listening.
Anson will also guide a sound meditation that helps shift from the thinking mode embedded in our habitual patterns to the direct experience mode of listening to sound as it is.
Visual artists working in various media will benefit from the experience of appropriating listening.
Participants will do the listening practices, followed by an interactive and reflective discussion. No previous experience is required—come along and find out!
In this workshop, you will:
- Learn basic principles of sound, and different listening modes and how to use listening as a research method in artistic creations.
- Participate in a sound meditation that helps shift our habitual pattern of thinking and analyzing to experiencing sound.
- Be inspired to apply listening practices in various artistic practices and collaborations.
- Connect with other artists and practitioners with similar areas of interest.
More about Dr. Hoi Shan Anson MAK
Anson is a queer researcher-artist and Buddhist. Specialised in research-based artworks and essay film/video, she has been making documentaries, web-based art projects, music videos, sound art, and sound design for 35 years. She also taught at universities in Hong Kong for 20 years. Her interests have ranged from gender/sexuality in the 1980’s-90’s, to gentrification and urban redevelopment in the 2000’s-10’s, to emotions and the notion of fear in the 2010’s, and, in recent years, mindfulness and archiving. Recently, she completed the teacher training at the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation and has begun her triple roles as artist-researcher and mindfulness teacher.
Her works have been selected for festivals including Busan International Film Festival, Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival and Vancouver International Film Festival and Queer East UK. Her works are in the collection of M+ Hong Kong.
About Bow Skills
Bow Arts seeks to support creative professionals at all stages of their careers. In 2015, Bow Arts launched Bow Skills in response to an artist survey which showed over 90% of practicing artists find it useful to receive further support outside formal education.
Bow Skills is a dynamic and relevant programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which is informed by an artist steering group and open to all creative practitioners across London. The programme of talks, panel discussions, new skills labs and peer crits is open to all, with concession rates available to students, over 65s, under 18s, Bow Arts artists and key workers.
Access Information
The Bow Arts Trust office has step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system. Accessible parking is not available on-site.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event, would like to make us aware of any access requirements that you have in advance of visiting, or would like this information in an alternate format including Easy Read, please email nunnery@bowarts.com or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3)
Access requirements could include things like providing equipment, services or support (e.g. information in Easy Read, speech to text software, additional 1:1 support), adjusting workshop timings (e.g. more break times), adjustments to the event space (e.g. making sure you have a seat near the entrance) or anything else you can think of!
Transport Information
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Address: Bow Arts Trust, 183 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ
Nearest station(s): Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away.
Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area.
Bike: Bicycle parking is located at Bow Church Station. The nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Bow Church Station.
