This summer we had the opportunity to take Sinfonía Biótica to PIFcamp, an international art and technology camp held in the impressive Soča river valley in Slovenia. The experience was unique, not only for showing our work, but also for building community, sharing knowledge and immersing ourselves in the collaborative energy that characterises this gathering.
Workshop: discovering the technology of Sinfonía Biótica
During the week we gave a practical workshop in which we showed how the technology behind Sinfonía Biótica works: from the digitisation of spaces with drones and techniques such as Gaussian splatting, to the capture of plants’ electrical impulses and their transformation into sound and visual data. We also shared how we use virtual reality to generate experiences that encourage awareness of other organisms. The workshop became a space for dialogue and the exchange of ideas, stimulating collaboration among participants.
Open Saturday: plant and digital interaction
For Open Saturday we designed an interactive installation combining plant biodata and projections. We digitised the PIFcamp courtyard with a drone and created a dynamic point cloud, in which the plants’ electrical impulses generated sounds and altered the digital scene in real time, as if they were the ones taking control of the space.
The public could interact thanks to several devices built during the week, including a piezoelectric sensor and an amplifier turned into a tactile button, adding their own participation to the sound and visual composition.
Audiovisual performance with Simon Goricar
In collaboration with the live coding artist Simon Goricar, we put on an audiovisual performance combining the point clouds of Sinfonía Biótica with generative music and visuals in real time. The performance was an example of how the digital, the vegetal and the human can interact in a poetic and experimental way.
A week of learning and experimentation
Beyond our own activities, we also took part in numerous workshops: from electronics with biomaterials and the making of bird calls with motors, to listening to and manipulating ultrasound, experiments with home ferments and the making of craft drinks. The week was an incredible space in which to learn, share and connect, discovering new techniques, ideas and friendships in a collaborative and creative atmosphere.
