The Sound of Earth, Virtual Talk by Julio César Palacio

THE SOUND OF EARTH, VIRTUAL TALK BY JULIO CÉSAR PALACIO

The Venezuelan-born sound artist and experimental composer from Barcelona discussed the different references and inspirations that led him to build his work When the Earth Talks, the piece for which he was selected in Flood. It is a sound installation that recalls the sensation of instability of the incessant seismic movements of the planet by means of vibrations produced by hidden speakers, located under a bench for public use in the Historic Pier of Antofagasta.

On October 28, the artist shared with Claudia Leon, coordinator of the biennial pedagogical programs, the biographical episode that led to the creation of his work on the pier: his experience with the 7.3 earthquake, as well as with the subsequent aftershocks, that occurred three years ago on the northern coast of Venezuela. From this experience, he was strongly impressed by the sound made by the earth in each frictional movement.

Noises, oscillations, undulations, reflections, and refactions of perceptible and imperceptible waves are all factors involved in the sound universe of the world around us, decisive components in Julio’s research, who has specialized in recording electromagnetic waves, in the universe of ultrasound and echolocation. From our dialog, it is clear that the artist has a deep sense of awareness of the current sound pollution and its impact on natural ecosystems. Hence his sound activism, as the artist believes that in its desire for technological development mankind has not taken adequate measures to regulate excessive noise pollution that is imperceptible to us, but that does affect the animals around us, both terrestrial and marine.