Art

Item Description

ARTIST:              Gabriel Micheletti
TITLE:                 Le murmure des pierres
MEDIUM             Print with acrylic, 16” x 20”, unframed

This original artwork was created for Art on Science: 26 études an internattional portfolio featuring pictures by artists and words by scientists. This written commentary is by B. Lapointe (PhD) and G. Micheletti (MD), Ingénierie at ARTE:
 
The State of the Art
Many acousticians work on the sound background of the seabed. The recent technical evolution has brought a dramatic improvement in the quality of the recordings done in situ which has allowed us to recognize their animal or vegetal origin. However, among these sounds, some can only be explained through a mineral origin. The work that we present is in favor of this hypothesis.
 
Material and Methods
We have developed a very powerful tool, “The differential hydrophone” which allows us to record the sounds emitted in an aquatic environment using an acoustic horn immersed in water with an ultra-powerful computer. It is equipped with software that transforms the oscillatory immateriality of sound into colored signals one can analyze with the naked eye. To avoid impacting the carbon footprint of the planet, we performed our experiments nearby in The Schnokeloch, a stream in the Vosges. In February, 2018 we recorded and identified sounds emitted in the creek bed at “The Waterfall of the Beardless Green Dwarf ” at 48åã 3’ 38” N latitude and 6åã 39’ 39” E longitude. The recordings were made between midnight and 3 am, when ambient sound is the least detectable. Despite a few disappointments, this option proved judicious. (1)
 
Results
1) Conditions a / A: the cascade is at full flow. The lower part of the piece (in black and white) displays the different recording spots (a1, a2 and a3). The chromatic transcription of the corresponding sound environment can be seen in the upper part
of the piece (A1, A2 and A3).
2) Conditions b / B: the waterfall is drained and cleared of vegetation after diversion of the course upstream. The lower part of the piece (in black and white) displays the different recording spots (b1, b2 and b3). The chromatic transcription of the corresponding sound environment can be seen in the upper part
of the piece (B1, B2 and B3).

Conclusion
The stones are the only elements which can be responsible for the residual sound environment. This brings the irrefutable proof of sound activity – imperceptible to the human ear – due to the stones. This is what we call  “The Whisper of Stones”.

Item Special Note

Free domestic shipping.

All artworks are 16” x 20”, unframed and will be shipped with a printed copy of the scientist’s text.

For further information about the portfolio, please visit our Art on Science: 26 études website: http://AS26project.com