THE WOODPECKERS
transform in real time the invisible radiations used for mobile communication and wireless technology into audible and visible drumming patterns. The sonic result is a generative acoustic composition which undergoes constant transformation. A live soundscape which resonates as an invading drum ensemble into urban and natural environments.









Electromagnetic radiation has been around since the birth of the universe; light is its most familiar form. Electric and magnetic field are part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation which extends from static electric and magnetic fields, through radiofrequency and infrared radiation, to X-rays. Marco Barotti started to research if he could create a robotic object as a form of creative detection of electromagnetic radiation. How could it react to people sending and receiving electromagnetic radiations through their smartphones? Out of thatinquiry THE WOODPECKERS (2017-2018) was born, data driven autonomous devices or custom-made robotic birds that serve as detectors of electromagnetic radiations (EMR). The robots are programmed and configured to read various ranges of the (EMR) spectrum andreinterpret these waves with a motion pattern similar to that of a woodpecker. They thus transform the invisible radiation used for mobilecommunication and wireless technology into audible and visible acoustic drum patterns. The WOODPECKERS are beautifully designed and attached using magnets to street signs, lamps, and other metal components of the urban landscape or attached hitherto onto a naturalenvironment such as trees. The sonic result can be compared to a kind of surround sound that creates an acoustic auto-generated compo-sition in constant development and variation. This results in an infinite soundscape, which plays with the resonances of metal urban objects as an invading drum ensemble adding beats and overtones to the city. Or in the artists words: “It is a sonic adventure where routine and unexpected sounds meet, it is an evolving composition where each one of us is responsible for the outcome”.


Credits
The Woodpeckers is a project created and produced by Marco Barotti

Co-produced by
In Situ, Lieux Public, Bildstörung Festival, La Strada Graz, Oerol Festival, Arts and Theatre Institute,

Funded by
Ministry of Culture and Science of the Federal State of Northrhein-Westfalia, City of Detmold, SACD / Auteurs d'Espaces,

Supported by
Phoenix Contact, Audio Ag, RME, Gigahertz Solutions, Dayton Audio

Text
Pauline Doutreluingne

Many thanks to:
Pim Boreel, assistant
Anna Anderegg, conceptual advises


SHOWS 2020
01.04 - 05.04.2020 - Go Short, Nijmegen, NL
22.04 - 23.04.2020 - Earth Day, Liverpool, UK 
25.06 - 01-09.2020 - Le Tetris, Le Havre, FR 
11.07 - 06.09.2020 - Tokyo Biennale, JP 
17.07 - 26.07.2020 - MKIF Festival, UK
04.09 - 06.09.2020 - Freedom Festival, UK 
10.09 - 15.09.2020 - Resilienze, Bologna, IT 
24.09 - 27.09.2020 - Lisboa Soa, Lisbon, PT 
15.10 - 17.10.2020 - Speculum Artium, SI

SHOWS 2019
11.05 - 12.05.2019 - Katowice Sound Art, Katowice, PL
09.06 - 10.06.2019 - Bien Urbain, Besançon, FR

22.06 - 23.06.2019 - Bien Urbain, Besançon, FR

05.07 - 07.07.2019 - Le Tombe De La Nuit, Rennes, FR 
13.07 - 14.07.2019 - Pristina, RKS 
01.08 - 05.08.2019 - New Holland, St Petersburg, RU 
09.08 - 11.08.2019 - Kaapstad, Tillburg, NL

04.10 - 05.10.2019 - Nuit Blanche, Brussels, BE

SHOWS 2018
26.04 - 30.04 NGBK Gallery - Berlin, DE
26.04 - 30.04 NGBK Gallery - Berlin, DE

19.05 - 30.06 Galerie Alte Schule Adlershof - Berlin, DE
18.05 - 21.05 Bildstörung - Detmold, DE

24.05 - 27.05 NN Festival - Norwich, UK

15.06 - 24.06 Oerol - Terschelling, NL

18.07 - 22.07 Chalon Dans La Rue - Chalon-sur-Saône, FR 
02.08 - 04.08 La Strada - Graz, AT

18.09 - 21.09 PLACCC - Budapest, HU

25.09 - 30.09 Travellings - Marseille, FR

10.10 - 14.10 Hidden Structures - Arnhem, NL

19.10 - 21.10 OORtreders - Neerpelt, BE 
01.11 - 04.11 KIKK festival - Namur, BE