The Lights Which Can Be Heard is an artistic research project on the sounds of the Northern Lights, long witnessed by
various indigenous communities in the Arctic. Despite the
numerous testimonies, the Western scientific community
denied their existence for decades until some hypotheses
about their origin began to surface in the 1950s, which are
still subject to debate today.
Among the different theories, some think that the observer/listener can perceive in their environment the natural VLF
(Very Low Frequency) radio waves produced by the Northern
Lights. Some natural elements, such as minerals or crystals,
would act as receivers and transform the electromagnetic
radio waves into the audible, acoustic spectrum.
The Sun, My Father (2022)
Synaesthetic installation
Aluminium, Quartz, Custom-made LED light
Installation view
Biennale des Imaginaires Numériques
© Sébastien Robert
Synaesthetic installation
Aluminium, Quartz, Custom-made LED light
Installation view
Biennale des Imaginaires Numériques
© Sébastien Robert
Without rejecting any of them, this is the one that caught
Sébastien’s attention for his project. Despite successful recordings following a three-week residency in Andøya, Norway, Sébastien realised that the VLF waves emitted by the
Northern Lights are becoming increasingly difficult to perceive due to anthropocentric activity. Drowned by artificial
signals, these natural radio waves are bound to disappear
from our perception.
Inspired by this unique context and in continuity with his previous work, Sébastien approached this ongoing debate from
different angles: indigenous, poetic and scientific, giving
voice to each stakeholder while incorporating his own vision. The result is four interconnected works at the intersection
of visual and sound arts, technology, science and ethnography, which allow the audience to perceive the sounds of the
Northern Lights while preserving them in the light.
Magnetic Fluctuations (2022)
Real-time generative sound installation
In collaboration with Rob Stammes (Polar Light Center)
Make Noise shared system + LED screen
Installation view
Biennale des Imaginaires Numériques
© Sébastien Robert
Credits
Co-produced by Plateforme CHRONIQUES CRÉATIONS
with the support of Région Sud, the city of Marseille and the
French Institute in Paris, coordinated by SECONDE NATURE
and ZINC. In partnership with Les Méjanes - Bibliothèque et
Archives Michel Vovelle
With the financial support of Stroom
Den Haag, DICRéAM and Fonds [SCAN] Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
With the intellectual support of the Royal Library of the
Netherlands, Tromsø Geophysical Observatory, Fiona Armery
(University of Cambridge), Rob Stammes (Polar Light Center)
and Harald Gaski (University of Tromsø)
With technical support from Tony Rolando (Make Noise), Lucien Nicou (design
+ production), Leandros Ntolas (light + optics), Pim Kerssemakers (metalwork) and Mark IJzerman (software)
Research
commissioned by STRP Festival, initiated during the Arctic
Wave residency (Andøya, NO) under the artistic supervision of
Jean-Emmanuel Rosnet
Exhibitions
2024
Dans la nature
Espace Multimédia Gantner
Bourogne
FR
Festival Zéro 1
France I - Musée Maritime
La Rochelle
FR
2023
Superluminal
Light Art Museum
Budapest
HU
Obsoletely New!
SIGN
Groningen
NL
Scopitone Festival
ESBANM
Nantes
FR
FIBER Festival
DOOR OPEN SPACE
Amsterdam
NL
2022
CNS
Arktikum
Rovaniemi
FI
Biennale Chroniques
Bibliothèque Méjanes
Aix-en-Provence
FR
STRP Festival
Pullman Hotel
Eindhoven
NL
Nordlyst Festival
Andenes Lighthouse
Andøya
NO
Terrestrial Voice
AyarKut Foundation
Yakutsk
RU