Lawrence Abu Hamdan is an artist, filmmaker, and self-described private ear whose work explores the political effects of listening. With a PhD focused on sound’s role in legal and human rights contexts, he has spent over a decade investigating acoustic evidence and its potential to expose state violence. In 2023, he founded Earshot, the first nonprofit dedicated to the use of audio for human rights and environmental justice. His research has informed asylum tribunals, ICC requests, and reporting for organizations including Amnesty International, Forensic Architecture, Human Rights Watch, and the Washington Post. Abu Hamdan’s works—spanning performances, films, and exhibitions—have been shown at MoMA, Tate Modern, Venice Biennale, Sharjah Biennial, and beyond, and are held in collections such as Centre Pompidou, Reina Sofia, and the Guggenheim. He is a joint recipient of the 2019 Turner Prize, alongside numerous international awards.
