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.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/194249c2f80a5c0b10a5224bd10aecfbdc2041cacc3e445d819182b3e42014c0/DSC09371.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/544bb60ee51db45e41e79aae342f8bf86ffb88de536ac083fd52ff6cb14458b5/MarcoBarotti_Clams_MarcoBarotti..jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f286e3f5e2ecbc7c9f5ac630cf414d4a264cad717adfbf9291e89cf3e7f5e3ac/MarcoBarotti_Clams_MarcoBarotti.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/371f82e1c4f0b63210f9d427cc0307c38be0c82ceef6a4d87a55f838dba2c2fe/MarcoBarotti_Clams......jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/216fdac00c2d97bb1920ec7afc10f02132be68d430a602235921ccd06fa62b22/MarcoBarotti_Clams.....jpg)
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
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/29db0dc2fad3dc1c3d64dc3b9d4c7a91c9679b9c2db78807b13c65f6c1a6258e/original.jpg)