LISTENING TREES / Domain of Chaumont sur Loire
A vibrating and sound installation :
An invitation to reconnect with the poetic figure of plant vibration. This sound and interactive installation, immersed in the vegetation, invites us to come into physical contact with poetic and sound reminiscences of a great vibrating and benevolent whole.
Given the intensity of the debates on the impact of human civilization on our environment, our society is in search of a new link to nature. Some authors are fascinated by recent researches that highlight both chemical and vibratory modes of plant communication. It is only recently that bio-acoustics has proven that some plants communicate by sound vibrations using mechano-sensitive means. These means of communication are organized in a network so that each individual receives and relays information at the same time. Some researchers consider that from the cellular level to the phenomena of communication by plant vibrations, a large vibratory whole constitutes a communication network obeying the same principles.
By extension, we can affirm that we are surrounded by mechano-sensitive vibrations and that our body is crossed by them from all sides. This work is an invitation to reconnect with the poetic figure of plant vibration.
It is about creating a vibratory ecosystem revealing mechano-sensitive plant vibrations, usually inaudible. These objects are perceived as living contact points of a vibratory life that is revealed to us. The device will be open to listening to its sound environment and based on cycles of vibrations appearance. As the audience moves through the installation, they are plunged into an autonomous vibratory universe. As soon as the approach the structures, the public enters the tactile dimension of the project. By browsing Sophie Lecomte’s interactive drawings, they can feel the vibrations and interact with them. It is during this close interaction that a musical universe appears, like a score the the public will make evolve.
From vibration to musical language, each structure of the installation diffuses vibration cycles based on plant vibrations. The entire installation diffuses and listens to its environment at the same time, creating a huge feedback effect. This moving and unpredictable sound base is the musical raw material of the installation.
Alexandre Lévy’s resonant and fluid music, made of percussion instrument recordings, resonances and harmonics, constantly gives birth to this poetics of vibration.
3 structures vibrantes et sonores au Domaine de Chaumont sur Loire
3 structures vibrantes et sonores au Domaine de Chaumont sur Loire
3 structures vibrantes et sonores au Domaine de Chaumont sur Loire
"Listening Trees" during the installation / Domain of Chaumont sur Loire / May 2020
Music and design : Alexandre Lévy
Artistic direction : Alexandre Lévy
Plastic design : Sophie Lecomte
Percussions : Laurence Chave
Computing : Max Bruckert
Programming for sound material / FAUST software : Yann Orlarey
Digital processing of images and sculptures : Tiffanie Attali
Stage manager : David Thomas
Construction : Vincent Lafôret
Production : Florence Pérougié
(Distribution : Isabelle Chaigne ? pas sur l'ancien site)
Production Cie aKousthéa in co-production with the Domaine of Chaumont-sur-Loire With the special support of Malakoff Médéric Humanis but also of GRAME (center of musical creation of Lyon), the Ferme du Buisson Scène nationale of Marne la Vallée, Le Cube (Issy les Moulineaux), Abbaye de Noirlac (Cher), 99bis (Oignies), Festival les Détours de Babel, Ministry of Culture (DRAC Centre), Marie d’Orléans, the General Council of Seine-et-Marne, and CIDMA