Blue Peril Sonification (Upcoming)

Blue Peril Sonification is a multi-sensory visual art installation that creates a visceral experience for viewers, one that will allow them to understand the gravity of the devastating effects of deep-sea mining. The installation will consist of photo, video, soundscapes, and interactive sculptures, all of which will be designed to convey the dangers of this practice.

Deep-sea mining is a relatively new industry that involves extracting valuable minerals from the ocean floor. The process involves drilling into the seabed and using large machines to extract minerals such as copper, cobalt, and nickel. While this practice may seem harmless, it has significant environmental consequences. Deep-sea mining can damage fragile ecosystems, destroy habitats, and disrupt every food chain. It will also release toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the water, which can have serious health implications for marine life and humans alike.

These toxic plumes of sediment direct the visuals and outline the score to the audio. They are derived from marine biologist data and ocean current information that tracks the sediment from the underwater drones and their spread beyond the mining zone.. This data is then sonified and used to control a series of hydrophone recordings I have been collecting for the past year. This data also controls large scale multi-channel video projections that are scalable and interactive.

Through this audio-visual installation, I aim to bring attention to the environmental destruction caused by deep-sea mining and encourage the viewer to take action. Viewers will experience a sense of being submerged, removed and reemerged in the deep sea and exhibition space in a hallucinatory dream-like state . This experience is possible with psychoacoustic sound and projection mapping utilizing the unique geometry and acoustics of the venue. For this project I have coded a ecosystem with a unique programming language that allows me to manipulate all the media with satellite data and graphical representations of the toxic sediment plumes and their implications on marine life, highlighting the unique and fragile nature of this ecosystem.

The intentions are less of a grandiose expression of self and rather a living breathing portal to information and action to protect our oceans.

Photo Series: Beached Whale. 2018