I've covered the work of Semiconductor before on these pages: Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt are responsible for a series of visual and acoustic sculptures that intersect art and science. Previously they brought magnetic fields to life for Channel 4, and recaptured minerals squeezed into existence deep inside the Earth's crust..
This time Ruth and Joe have turned their eyes skyward, where solar winds rasp against the upper reaches of our atmosphere, stirring huge geo-magnetic storms.
20 Hz observes a geo-magnetic storm occurring in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Working with data collected from the CARISMA radio array and interpreted as audio, we hear tweeting and rumbles caused by incoming solar wind, captured at the frequency of 20 Hertz. Generated directly by the sound, tangible and sculptural forms emerge suggestive of scientific visualisations. As different frequencies interact both visually and aurally, complex patterns emerge to create interference phenomena that probe the limits of our perception.
The result is something that must be seen and heard to truly appreciate. Watching this, I felt like a JG Ballard protagonist marooned on the far reaches of some destitute planet. Make sure to watch it in full screen...
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where science, art and music intersect
Destitute? As in, financially broke? Maybe "desolate" was the word you sought.
I meant what I said! Destitute: impoverished, lacking anything of value. From the Latin "dÄstitÅ«tus": forsaken, abandoned.
Sweet video. I wonder how long it will be until a band uses it as a backdrop during their performance?
This vid is great, your right jesse this would be great if a band used this for a show. Its freaky, you could trip out to this!
I just love this video.Thanks for sharing this with us Frank.