Deepwood lets us hear a world we may never have before. Attaching multiple biosensors to a living tree, Mechanimal (Tom Bailey and Xavier Velastin) convert the tiniest of internal changes – a fluctuation in sap flow or electrical conductivity – into sound. Visitors don headphones and wander in the vicinity of the tree, picking up these audible phenomena. As we listen, we realise how sensitive this seemingly silent tree really is. Deepwood offers us a glimpse into how a non-human life form reacts to the world we all share.
Tom Bailey – Creative Director and Designer
Xavier Velastin – Sound Artist and Creative Technologist
Danilo Oliveira Vaz – Plant sensor designer and researcher
Jon Somerscales – UX design and technical support
Natasha Soonchild – Physical design
Project made possible by support from Digital Catapult, Knowle West Media Centre, MyWorld and Creative Scotland. With thanks to the Knowle West Community.
