Human Garden

The HUMAN GARDEN series is a body of work that aims to bring a focus on how people in urban environments interact with their surrounding green spaces. Urban development and tampering have caused a decline in endemic New England flora, in addition to causing isolation and alienation within local communities by creating gentrified environments. This project aims to point to the changes and control these types of green spaces have on a neighborhood and city, and how access is decided by location, urban design, and government politics.

By using a biodata sonification device, like the MIDI Sprout, that is able to take the biodata from a plant. Like humans, plants give off electric bioenergy that can be translated into a rhythmic patterned sound, that can then be sent through a MIDI connection and translate it into music. Through the use of devices that enable the energy, or conductivity of plants to be translated into sound. I aim to create an alternative way of connecting to the environment around us but also to one another. Biosounds will enable visitors to listen to the sounds made from the plants in the gallery and create a collaborative rhythm by touching them. Sometimes I collaborate with musicians to mix these sounds into atmospheric abstract music. I also use projections installed into parks and green spaces to create a digitally constructed environments, giving visuals to the audible, communicating with both simultaneously.

Performed at Spaceus at Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA
May 18, 2018
Video and photos by by Alif Ibrihim
Music contributions by Sean Saman

BIOSOUNDS

BIOSOUND WORKSHOPS

Biosounds Workshop at Boston Children’s Museum, March & May 2019