2025 Water-filled PVC bags (suspended), hydrophone, contact microphones, real-time amplification Scientific review: Elena Roscioli. Sound composition: Luana Lunetta. Performer: Valentina Sansone Genes: ATOH1 (hearing, shared by fish and humans), HOX (fin/limb formation) First presented at: to be defined
PVC bags of various sizes, filled with water, hang in the space. Inside each bag a hydrophone and contact microphones pick up the sounds and vibrations of the water, amplifying them in real time. Two genes structure the project: ATOH1, responsible for the development of the auditory apparatus, shared by fish and humans, and HOX, involved in the formation of fins in fish and of limbs in humans. Valentina Sansone moves among the suspended bags and alters their position, pressure, inclination. Every contact with a bag generates sound variations picked up by the hydrophones. The movements follow fish locomotion patterns: lateral undulations, sudden thrusts, changes of direction. The sound depends on the force and type of contact between the body and the PVC surfaces. The bags swing, knock against each other, transmit vibrations that propagate through the water and are returned as sound into the space.
Immanent regime. The genes ATOH1 and HOX structure the work. The performer’s movements follow fish locomotion patterns. The code is genetic, shared across species. Here the string is the common biological inheritance: the same instruction generates fins or limbs, underwater or airborne hearing.
Photo: Cristina Crippa Produced by artQ13.