In nature, clams are detectors of pollutants; they serve as tiny filtration systems.
Clams is a collection of kinetic sound sculptures which convert data from water quality sensors into sounds and movement. Each ‘clam’ is constructed from recycled waste plastic and contains a speaker. The continuously evolving microtonal soundscape gives each shell a subtle, life-like opening and closing action. Real-time readings from an industry-standard water purity sensor placed in the river, lake or sea of the cities where the artwork is presented, form the basis for the music, which is generated through a constantly shifting process based on water quality levels over time.
Clams invite the audience to draw connections between media art, data sonification and environmental sustainability.
Credits:
Clams is a project created and produced by Marco Barotti
Software development Pim Boreel
Special thanks to Anders Ehlin, Marco Canevacci, Yena Young, Stefan Dietzelt, Carsten Reith, Daniel Brunet & Markus Wüste for advises and support
Clams was developed at WRO Art Center within the framework of EMAP / EMARE
Co-funded by:
Creative Europe, C-Takt, Oerol Festival, and Transnatural
Supported by:
Dayton Audio, “In-Situ” water quality measurements,
Clams is awarded from the NTU Global Digital Art Award Singapore
