YCAM is wrapping their 10th Anniversary InterLab program by showing installations by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Shiro Takatani at the centre. Titled "Art ― Environment ― Life", the exhibition introduces three installations realised with the YCAM InterLab team. One of the projects, the "Forest Symphony" was initiated some years ago with part aim of to develop an original device dedicated to measuring the bioelectric potential of trees, working around the concept of taking this gathered data and Sakamoto converting it to music; a symphony played by trees in forests from around the world. In addition to its exhibition as an installation, the purpose of this project is to gather worldwide data and YCAM has opened the initiative to the public as an open source so that tool kits for gathering trees' bioelectric potential.
“Trees convert sunlight to energy through photosynthesis, meaning they are a genius at capturing electromagnetic waves. I want to turn that nature’s cycle into music.” --- Sakamoto had always been deeply intrigued by forests and trees…following the Great East Japan Earthquake, this intrigue transformed into a concrete form of artistic expression; the Forest Symphony project.