Sacred Resonance are returning to Adelaide Fringe with their beautiful and unique show and installation.
Plantsong: The Secret Sound of Plants and Sound Bath – Plant Song are the two productions on offer this year and both give an insight into the voice of plants.
Darren Curtis of Sacred Resonance says the show and installation are a collaborative effort set to open your eyes and ears.
“Plant songs: The Secret Life of Plants is an installation and exhibition component is is offered free to the public, thanks to our crowdfunding success,” he says. “Inspired by the book The Secret Life of Plants, a classic from the 1970’s. This book explored all sorts of weird and wonderful experiments, which were done with plants. One experiment was using what is called a wheatstone bridge circuit, based on a lie detector device, to make the plants sing. Here electrodes are attached to the plants leaves and the electrical resistance across the surface of the leaf is changed into musical frequencies based on inner patterns generated by the electrical data. Data collected is converted into ‘plant music’ allowing the plant kingdom a special voice to communicate back to us through interactive biofeedback. Each plant reacts in a different way to stimuli and responds with its own unique intelligence. Like us, each plant has its own distinct voice!”
Sacred Resonance team members Darren and Bradley use the basis of this technology to transform plants into musical instruments – playing sounds otherwise inaudible to the human ear.
Also on the team are Dr Kenneth Scott, and Jessica Curtis who is contributing her beautiful visual art to the project.
“We are excited also to be collaborating with, In Search of the Divine (Jessica Curtis ) with her stunning visual art exploring this secret plant world,” Darren says. “Jessica’s visual art will explore the hidden patterns, geometries and subtle energies of the Plant Kingdom and their intrinsic connection and effect on human consciousness.”
Sound Bath Plantsong follows the same premise with a different format.
“SoundBath PlantSong is a way to also use the components of the installation to relax, unwind and be immersed in the presence of the sounds of plants,” Darren says. “This unique, live sound bath performance incorporates the sounds created by plants, as well as relaxing, transformative music. The beauty and wonder of nature is showcased as plants are given a chance to sing. In the live performance you can lay on our yoga mats or in our seats to bathe in the plant music soundscapes.”
“A sound bath is a way for the mind-body to relax, unwind and let the vibrations wash over you. Using sound vibrations and frequencies attuned to nature frequencies, it can allow a gentle, yet powerful, experience for the mind and body. Each instrument creates a different frequency that vibrates in your body and helps guide you to the meditative and restorative state.”
Darren says the projects were imagined into life through his study and interest in music and the world around him.
“Sound Bath Plant Song came about by exploring how the vibrations of live music would encourage the plants as musical instruments to play as part of the musical performance. How would they respond sonically? How would the plants tune into the live soundscape? Will the plants change their tune to be in tune, or will they take the lead?” he says.
“The installation came about by public demand from our 2015 installation at the biCon, also we wanted to explore further the secret sound of plants in other creative ways through technology and art.”
With both projects showing at Port Adelaide, Darren is looking forward to being part of that community with Plantsong.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be at the Port during the Fringe in unique and amazing spaces and also get our work shown to a much wider audience,” he says.
So if you’re a plant or music lover and you’re curious about nature and art, head to the Port to listen to Plant Song.
More information here:
Plant Songs: The Secret Sounds of Plants
By Libby Parker
Upside Adelaide 