Hydra reminiscence

The sound performance features sound transmitted live as generated by Hydra, an immortal freshwater microscopic polip, mixed with the sound recordings, the archive of the time reminiscence, collected during time that body of Hydra is regenerating and the sound of the water recording of a Donau in Linz. Field recordings and the live sound are establishing a new soundscape.

The sound performance Hydra reminiscence, was developed in the context of the principles of DIY biology art by the Hackteria network (free software and hardware, mobile lab, bio tech) and with a Theremidi Orchestra device – Micronoise.

Context and inspiration:

The human life expectancy almost doubled during the last century while we attempt to solve the limitations of our bodies with the regenerative medicine whose research is lately focused on biologically immortal animals. We study their cells and proteins with the hope to acquire their properties via “biotech download” in our cells.

While much effort has been spent trying to prolong life itself, it is important to understand the quality of an extended life. Biological life forms are inseparable from their restrictions which we have not yet managed to fully understand.

photos by Pascal Vanneau, Rencontres Bandits-Mages, November 2014

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Sound performance Hydra reminiscence was developed during a residency of Robertina Šebjanič “The WET” at Eleonore, Stadtwerkstatt as part of residency and event “The Soft, the Hard and the Wet”, curated by Shu Lea Chang, at the Ars Electronica festival with MS Wissenschaft, September 2014

Production: Eleonore, Stadtwerkstatt, 2014