SWANS


“Swans” seems like a harmless and naive name for the radical yet subtle intervention in nature accomplished by this work. Irony is a clearly recognizable element of this installation made from eight satellite dishes, seven white and one black, obvious waste elements of our society representing the power of mainstream TV and mass media. Brought to life by sound, wind and water, these animals float peacefully in a pond, merging perfectly with the nature surrounding them. 
Speakers installed above the bases of the former satellite dishes serve as the animals’ heads. Two layers of sound design consisting of bass frequencies and human breath passing through brass instruments provide them with voice and motion. Eight individual audio channels are used to transport the sound through the swans, bringing them to life and remodeling the landscape. 
This image provokes both a sense of revulsion and an intimate feeling of familiarity, serving as a hack of the natural environment while challenging the audience with its amalgamation of tech waste and wildlife. The omnipresent hand of humanity is unmistakable in its role as a kind of god in the same way that humanity relates to nature.

26-27 September 2015, "Art Now" Tornow, Germany
19-20 February 2016, List í Ljósi Light Festival, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland

Concept: Marco Barotti
Curated by: Markus Wüste
Produced at Platoon Kunsthalle (Berlin)
Thanks: Anna Anderegg
Photos: Marco Barotti
Text: Isabel Andrés Portí