Art Dances to Seismic Activity

A tiny piece of the Venice Biennale, an international art exhibition taking place in Italy through November, is on view at the California College of the Art’s Wattis Institute. The work is part of Alexandre Estrela’s RedSkyFalls, an installation centered at the Portugal Pavilion in Venice that combines engraved aluminum plates, manipulated recordings of animal movement, and real-time seismic data. 

The work at the Wattis, Réplica (larvae), consists of an engraved aluminum plate that’s brought to life by projected video and a soundtrack. It’s rigged so that when large-enough seismic activity occurs around the world, the sound changes and video ceases movement, mimicking the freezing response of animals to earthquakes. Additional Réplicas are on view in other cities that, like San Francisco, are earthquake-prone: Los Angeles; Lima, Peru; and Lisbon, Portugal.

On a recent afternoon, the circles, triangles and lines engraved on the plate appeared to dance in time to electronic beeps that sped up or slowed down unpredictably. Viewing the piece was like watching a mobile sway in the wind, attached strings fluttering. Twice in about twenty minutes a grinding noise was heard, the moving shapes and lines fell into line with the groves on the plate, then froze. About thirty seconds later, the work eased back to life.

To view the work, access the CCA campus from the security office to the left of the Hooper Street gate, enter the Simpson Family Makers Building to the left, and follow signs to the Wattis Institute. Réplica (larvae) is mounted on the wall next to the elevator through November 21.