The plant based instrument

The plant based instrument is a modular synthesizer that is placed in nature, and that plays the rhythm of the patterns from it’s environment. All music and visuals are generated by microscopes and sensors, placed on the plants and their surroundings. The leaf structures and growth patterns function as a sequencer for the synthesizer. The natural occurring patterns that happen all around us, like the wind patterns, landscapes, sun position and colour, are observed, captured and re-arranged to create a sound.

The houseplants turn into musicians that play a raw beat, which ultimately can be turned into music with a little help from a performer. The setup works as a laboratory that helps the performer to extract the patterns into danceable music.

The performer takes on the role of translator of the patterns out of the plants and environment, or he can help people to do this themselves, and thus make an unexpected connection with the plants and music that they help create.

The Plant-based instrument 2.0 was on display between April and August 2022 in the sculpture garden of Museum de Fundatie at kasteel het Nijenhuis. Once a month and the week of Fundatie summer stage festival, I was present at the greenhouse for the full day to introduce people to the system and to enter into a dialogue with them about the connection between people and nature. Thus, the installation was constantly evolving during this period.

The films and music produced in the greenhouse have been exhibited in the museum along with the film about the first version of the installation.

The documentary about the exhibition can be seen HERE.