Species of Analogy

A field guide: Flora evolving with environmental changes, and pollinators utilizing biomimicry. Natural objects are gathered, and sculptures of and from the landscape cast reflections of nature being infinite, self-knowing, and alive. Extinct species and stages of evolution are suggested, accompanied by field recordings capturing the underground soundscape of soil. Bird calls and wingbeats offer greetings and warnings. -A rock, a tree, a human—each dissolving into matter and transmuting into new forms. Notes: I make works that feature natural art forms found in landscapes. With each film, I have attempted to make sensory experiences that are not reliant on human information and allow the natural world to communicate in its own language. The sound of this film is made up of field recordings of bird calls and wingbeats and a larger portion of the film’s soundtrack contains vibrational recordings of the soil beneath our feet. Using a specialized microphone called a geophone which is traditionally used to record seismic activity these sensitive microphones pick up vibrations and can be used to listen to the health of the soil as well as hear ground animals. Some insects and animals use the soil to communicate with each other by generating vibrations that can be picked up via their legs and body. You will hear various ground animals such as moles, springtails, slugs, earthworms, ants, spiders, beetles, and cicadas. You will also hear the wind moving the plants and trees on the soil surface which will be audible as a rumbling in the soil. Other environmental noises can also be heard in the soil (building site construction, traffic, and human activity). There are other instances in the film where a harsher noise persists. Those noises are made by electromagnetic fields emanating from cell phones, modems, power stations, and various communication towers. Species of Analogy also contains the hands of artists and their sculptural and pottery works that are inspired by or directly engage with the landscape. In this film, you will travel up the trunks of redwood trees revealing their unique and densely textured bark which has evolved to protect itself from fire and use fire to release its seeds. Regardless of the ongoing debates within the scientific community- plants and animals are sentient. When we engage in attention and deep listening the natural world communicates its knowledge.

Year

2024

Director

J.M. Martínez

Duration

13 min

Country

United States, United States