Beyond Human Perception — UH513 Estudio

Beyond Human Perception places plants and humans on the same plane of perception, allowing their responses to be explored in parallel and revealing the sensitivity of both living beings to changes occurring in their environment.

The installation emerged from a series of sessions in which human brain activity was recorded through EEG measurements, alongside the electrical vibrations generated within plants while both living beings listened to improvised live music. These plant signals were captured using a sensor developed by the artists themselves, capable of detecting immediate variations in their activity.

Through the mathematical processing of these data—using the Fast Fourier Transform—it is possible to extract and compare patterns in both humans and plants. The resulting information is translated into a visualization generated through a custom algorithm, in which small spheres move within a torus-shaped geometric structure. Each sphere represents a set of data, creating a dynamic space in which the viewer can identify correspondences and shared rhythms between the two living beings.

The human and plant visualizations are presented simultaneously, accompanied and synchronized by the musical piece that served as the stimulus during the recording sessions.

Beyond Human Perception. 2020. Two-channel synchronized video installation. 32 min 54 sec.

Plants monitored during the live sessions: Coleus Blumei, Epipremnum Aureum, Fittonia Verschaffeltii, Hedera Helix, Peperomia Caperata, Pilea Peperomioides, Polypodium, Spathiphyllum

Human participants in the live sessions: Yadhira Bartolomé, Lucía Falcón, Juan Falcón, Fernando González, María González, Anibal López, Tamara Norniella, Karin Ohlenschläger, Gema Ramos, Ana Serna, Román Torre, Patricia Villanueva

Top: Sensors and electronics integrated into 3D-printed structures, specifically developed for the project to record the electrical activity of plants.

Bottom: EEG measurement system used to record human brain activity.

WORK EXHIBITED AT:

The Senses of Plants. Villa Merkel – Galerie der Stadt Esslingen, Esslingen (DE). 2 March - 2 June 2024.
EMAP Perspective #1. gnration, Braga (PT). 20 January - 29 April 2024.
Electronic Fields. Llerena, Extremadura (ES). 27 - 29 October 2023.
Digital Art Alicante. Espacio Séneca, Alicante (ES). 17 March - 16 April 2023.
Kin(d)Relations. Transpalette, Antre Peaux, Bourges (FR). 5 November - 31 December 2022.
Earthbound – In Dialogue with Nature. House of Electronic Arts, Basilea (CH). 3 September - 13 November 2022.
XXI Festival Internacional de la Imagen. Bogotá / Manizales (CO). 17 - 21 October 2022.
Meta.Morf 2022. Trondheim International Biennale for Art and Technology, Trondheim (NO). 3 September - 30 October 2022.
Earthbound – In Dialogue with Nature. Möllerei, Esch-sur-Alzette (LU). 4 June - 25 August 2022.
Beyond Human Perception. New European Bauhaus Festival, KBR Museum, Bruselas (BE). 9 - 12 June 2022.
Sustainability. Augustenborg Art Project, Augustenborg (DK). 4 June - 28 July 2022.
Hiperobjetos. Centre Cívic Can Felipa, Barcelona (ES). 3 May - 17 July 2022.
ECOSS. Ecosistemas de lo Inesperado. Arts Santa Mònica, Barcelona (ES). 15 July - 28 November 2021.
Cuando las mariposas del alma baten sus alas. LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, Gijón (ES). 11 December 2020 - 24 April 2021.
Touch Me Festival 2020. Hala V Tehničkog Muzeja Nikola Tesla, Zagreb (HR). 17 September - 3 October 2020.
Rencontres Internationales Mondes Multiples. Antre Peaux, Bourges (FR) [online]. 13 November - 6 December 2020.
EMAP Journeys. Ars Electronica (AT) [online]. 9 - 13 September 2020.

RELATED PRESENTATIONS:

Beyond Human Perception. International Congress ADD+Art (online). 07.08.2021.

PUBLCATIONS:

Castellanos, María; Valverde, Alberto. Beyond Human Perception, ed. Olga Majcen Linn y Tereza Teklić. KONTEJNER.
Castellanos Vicente, María. Beyond Human Perception. At Art i espai social: pràctiques artístiques en contextos socials. 2022, pp. 112-113