Wolfmachine Cerveira

Wolfmachine Cerveira André Sier (2020-22)

Wolfmachine Cerveira includes a bio-electronic installation (Wolfmachine) and video recordings of implantations in the landscape (Wolfmachine video), until the opening date of the Space/Program exhibition at the Fundação Bienal de Cerveira.

Wolfmachine is a bio-electronic work designed for wolves and non-human ecosystems, consisting of electronic mini-laser lights, robotic and programmed from scratch, spread across the landscape, which sing in sync with visual patterns, through the rhythmic emission and composed of beams of green laser light for the sky and surrounding landscape. The generative composition performed by the lasers is based on historical data on the evolution of the lupus population in Portugal during the 20th century. Each decade of data from the Portuguese municipalities collected by Grupo Lobo’s scientific research consists of records of sightings of live or dead wolves where it is possible to observe the geographical distribution of Canis lupus signatus over time (1901-2000), until its current almost extinction.

The electronic composition, repeated in a unique and generative way from hour to hour, is divided into 10 sections, where these, representing a decade of data, have equi-temporal durations of 2.5 minutes, and where the numerical data of wolf presence in Portugal are grouped together. by southern, central and northern regions determine the types of movements performed by the lasers, as well as the rhythm of their luminous pulses. Wolfmachine video presents this visualization of data throughout the 20th century and video recordings of Wolfmachine implantations in the landscape, and serves as a video background for installations of the work in exhibition contexts. The lasers in the landscape visualize the near extinction of the apex predator essential to forest biodiversity through electronic chants. Wolfmachine is a bio-electronic work by wolves and for wolves, which simultaneously functions as a visual protection barrier in the landscape for the animals, and as a metaphor for the encounter of howling wolves, in their packs, which come together to chant almost shamans, telecommunicating with the unknown and evoking protective omens.

Wolfmachine Cerveira (Wolfmachine and Wolfmachine video), which stems from the art-science project “Os Lobos em Portugal” by ArteCódigo Cultural Association, is possible thanks to the project’s partners and support. It has the conception, artistic direction, code in charge of André Sier. Realization in hardware by Tiago Rorke, Maurício Martins, MILL, s373.net/x. Filming and drone by André Sier, Henrique Casinhas, Tiago Fróis. The production of ArteCodigo. Co-production by Grupo Lobo and CIBIO. Support from the General Directorate of Arts, Mafra City Council, Paredes de Coura Municipality. And counts with partners s373.net/x, MILL, Cultivamos Cultura, Oficinas do Convento, FBAUP, Fundação Bienal de Cerveira.