Split Collective

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Maartje van Ringen and Simone Wenth recording data in Białowieża Forest.


Field Records



In Field Records we combine biosonification data and visual experiments, which explores the stress levels of one of Europe’s last remaining primeval forests. At a time when ecosystems around the world are under increasing pressure, we believe it is crucial not only to observe what is visibly changing, but also to pay attention to what is happening beneath the surface.



















What does a forest sound like when it is exposed to intense human disturbance? What does the inner rhythm of a tree reveal when a border wall is built beside it, or when military vehicles move through the forest? And what could we, as humans, learn if we truly listen to these signals?


 















“When people experience feelings of awe, they are more likely to show empathetic and charitable behavior.”





- Dacher Keltner, psychology professor
Trees and plants continuously respond to changes in their environment, generating subtle electrical signals within their cells. Human interventions, such as damaging their trunks, trigger measurable stress responses. Through biodata sonification, we capture these signals and translate them into audible sound.

Together with data engineer Hans Wassink, we developed one analogue and two digital computer boards equipped with electrodes that measure and store the electrical signals of trees and plants.

Sound data indicating change in the plant environment
With the recorded data, Simone started to experiment and built a script that reacts to the audio impulses and manipulates visuals. This experiment is in the beginning stage.

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