Tree Radio Installation at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

“Someday artists will work with capacitors, resistors and semi-conductors as they work today with brushes, violins and junk.” Nam June Paik 1965

Read my recent article on Tree Radio for “Reflections on Process in Sound” which brings together the material here:

Reflections_on_Process4_2015-MH

I recently finished a summer research residency at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) where I have produced a new sound installation, which is on exhibition there for the next year. Tree Radio which has has transformed an oak tree at the Sculpture Park into a micro radio station. A transmitter embedded into the tree relays as fluctuating sound the trees reactions to light, via sensors on the tree and probes in the tree, which also relay its water levels as electronic tones. Visitors at YSP can pick up the trees transmissions on their personal FM devices (such as phones with FM) if they are standing next to or near the tree.

This work addresses issues surrounding the rate that new digital technology often becomes out-of-date, as it uses 100 year old tried and tested wireless technology. I have been working at the intersection between art and technology and this project takes forward my current interests.

I wanted to make people think about trees and the root of all wireless technology: radio, and how simple and green it can be to use. Wireless, free and solar powered. The tree transmitter reveals the hidden facets of organic tree life using simple FM wireless technology.

General George Owen Squire, the U.S. Army’s Chief Signal Officer and incidentally the inventor of Muzak, back in 1919, described how “[all] trees, of all kinds and all heights, growing anywhere—are nature’s own wireless towers and antenna combined.” He called this “talking through the trees.” He used trees as an antenna to pick up radio signals for the Army, I wanted to do the reverse use trees to send out a signal as radio and I loved the idea of actually hearing the trees talk. This project allows one to hear the tree responding to light and water as sound.

New digital wireless communication today is often disguised as trees and this is a playful way of getting people to think about trees as transmitters and radios early military history. The other aim of the project was to connect people with radio technology and simple electronics

The project was kick started by an Art for the Environment residency awarded by UAL where I completed my PhD on radio art. For me this is just phase one of this research project which I plan to develop further.

Tree Radio is currently exhibited at YSP until next year. Over the past year I have also been sharing my radio art research practice via Radio Arts workshops such as Reclaim the Waves earlier this year at the Tate Britain, a project exploring the changes to the lives of London residents over several decades, and Dream Vessels at the Turner Contemporary, where ceramic pots were used to transmit participants dreams.

Details of Yorkshire my Sculpture Park Installation  http://www.ysp.co.uk/exhibitions/magz-hall

Photos, films and blog posts of the installation process on this page:

Proposal for the Project https://magzhall.wordpress.com/tree-radio/

My first week at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park was fruitful. I made a test transmitter on part of a tree to get a handle on the size and what it would look like and I really love how the transmitter looks on the tree, it’s so simple and clean cut and really wish I could leave it like that,  however moisture and rain will be an issue as it will easily flood the circuit, a week of unseasonal summer rain has highlighted how wet the trees get they soak a lot up water so my main issues is to think about how I can keep the wood to the back of the circuit dry. I’ve sourced some plastic, nails from a local Leeds manufacturer which can be used instead then I only have to think about keeping the front dry. The park suffers from meddlers I’m told (who can pull thinks apart even push over sculptures ) a reason I did consider putting a shield casing onto the outside to protect if from over zealous visitors and the elements. However I want to keep the water protection fitting to the eco nature to the project so have  now opted to paint on resin instead as I want it to be simple and effective.

The other issue has been sourcing the solar power, it looks like I could daisy chain several solar lights together to get the correct voltage I need as 9 volts is less than the  standard 12 volts solar power for sale at maplin et al. It’s been really surprising how little variety is available on the market for small solar panels which can also recharge this voltage. I am going to test out some options whilst at the Supernormal festival next weekend as I’m co running a Radio Arts transmitter workshop with Jim and Genetic Moo, who I’m roping into help. It seems all the great sculptures at the park are the result of huge team efforts so this is no different.

The very present tree moisture will be good for the sensors Anthony Elliot has made for the project, one picks up the resistance from the tree via moisture in it the other reacts to the light from the tree. We tested them last week and they sounding great already so looking forward to hearing what they sound like on the tree. I found a fantastic site to for tree radio in a  small wood of pine trees however once the sun finally came out I was concerned if there will be enough light for the solar panels,  so lots to sort out in the next few weeks before I return. YSP are fantastic hosts its been great to get a behind the scenes understanding of the park and how it functions from all perspectives. Simon, James and Nathalie have been super supportive, so looking forward to getting this up and running later in the month.