On view at the Wattis bar, Wednesday-Saturday, noon-6pm.

Since the late 1990's, Miya Masaoka has been creating compositions and interactive installations that explore the sonic world of plants. Equipping them with highly sensitive electrodes that connect their leaves and roots to a computer interface, Masaoka amplifies the plants’ electrical activity and gives “voice” to them. When a physical presence approaches one of Masaoka’s plant installations, they can hear an audible representation of the plants’ reactions to their presence. In this way, participants are encouraged to consider the possibility and potentiality of plants having a sense of awareness, the ability to communicate, and have a plant-like consciousness. 

From February 16 to 24, Masaoka presents one of her ongoing Pieces for Plants and Roots installations in the Wattis bar and a live performance with musician Hans Tammen at The Lab on Friday, February 16.

This is the fourth event in our year-long season dedicated to thinking about our contemporary moment through the lens of Anicka Yi’s work.