Rhythms, Sounds & Images

ARm #2

A public art programme at Bekkelaget in September 2023. During 2 days around Full Moon the various presentations connected the sensorial with the rhythmic relations of the place.

Lumen Dialogues, exhibition by Sakib Saboor

A visit to Bekkelaget Water Treatment Plant and listening to Dråpen, a permanent interactive sound installation by Arne Nordheim


Cleansing and Cleaning; rituals by Robel Temesgen and Margrethe Pettersen

“History of the Tide” by Arjen Mulder


Joik Noir - Find your Voice by Torgeir Vassvik (evening session)


“The Wind and the Trees”, lecture by Arjen Mulder

“Eigenfrequency: A reading and listening circle on the seashore” by Signe Lidén and Hilde Methi

“An ocean of (im)possibilities: on waves, particles and the interpretational problems of quantum physics” by artist Marte Aas and physicist Anders Kvellestad

“Joik Noir - Find your Voice” by Torgeir Vassvik (afternoon session)

The Red Tide WORKSHOP by artist Izabela Żółcińska and marine biologist Simon Hasselø Kline

Photos: Michael Miller
Photos 'Lumen Dialogues': Sakib Saboor

ARm in "Electrification, ripples and a glass plate" at Fotogalleriet

ARm Tidal Relief, a documentation structure with contributions from Marielle van Dop, Miriam Jakob, Peeter Laurits, Margrethe Pettersen, Ina Otzko, Sakib Saboor, Torgeir Vassvik, Izabela Żółcińska, Marte Aas, Arjen Mulder, Signe Lidén as part of the exhibition Electrification, ripples and a glass plate curated by Hilde Methi at Fotogalleriet, Oslo, 27.09 -12.11.2023.

Above: Two drawings mounted on a juniper branch, A3 format, hand-dyed silk from mushroom water embroidered on paper and text, mounted on a spiked juniper branch, by Margrethe Pettersen

Under: Wave machine by Marte Aas: three Sony monitors, super-8mm film transferred to HD video.

Above: The Breathing Diary by Izabela Żółcińska: drawing on wall and window, graphs from breath sensor and hand-drawn illustration, 770 x 57 cm. The artist recorded the diary's breathing data under the Academy of Rhythmorphology #1 at Slettnes, 71°05' N 28°13' E. The work includes the breathing parameters of Izabela Żółcińska and Miriam Jakob, in addition to information about the tide levels recorded by the Kartvesenet (mapping authority) in the same period. The graph shows the air the artist inhaled and exhaled during one hour. Made in collaboration with Sagar Sen, senior researcher, Sintef. 

Above and Below (left): Posters by Peeter Laurits, including AR, #1 group photo and documentation of activities. Photographies taken under Arm #1 has also manifested in several of Laurits´ exhibitions and works.

Below (right): How’s Your Heart? by Ina Otzko: framed polaroid. The photograph shows the light from the moon moving through a fall due to the strength of the wind and intense storm. The photo was captured as part of a series over three days during the year's first full moon.

Above: Eight analogue photographs, 20 x 13 cm, from Slettnes, mounted on aluminum and presented on 3 shelves, by Sakib Saboor.

Below: Headphones with sound, by Miram Jacob, Phantasmagorical Breathscapes On a journey in an imaginary landscape, the rhythm of the breath meets elemental forces such as gravity, the rhythmic pull of the tide, and our deep attraction to the earth. Based on Ilse Middendorf's instructional work, the sensible breathing method operates on the threshold between conscious and unconscious breathing. One of the technique's main principles is to let the breath come and go by itself. The method has no compulsion, and the breath is never controlled. Field recording, music, and sound design by Felix Claßen at Osthafen Studio Berlin. Listen to the breathscape here:

Two loudspeakers, newly composed music by Torgeir Vassvik The sound is played on a portable monotribe analog ribbon station the musician discovered during ARm #1. The production relates to the movement of the tide at Slettnes throughout the exhibition period from 27 September to 12 November 2023. The eight tracks are played as six sets in random order with a sound volume that rises and falls in line with the fluctuations between high and low tide in Gamvik in this period. Production: Neal Cahoon.

Above: Still from video with recording of kelp movement in water in Slettnes by Marielle van Dop

Below: One of three finger kelp- speaker playing out sound recordings from snails, elbow scales and other life in tidal ponds, by Signe Lidén and detail of Izabela Żółcińska´s The Breathing Diary.

Above: The Breathing Diary, full lenght. Below: The Breathing Diary, where the “breathing conversations” between Miriam Jakob and Izabela Żółcińska and the tide are mapped.

Photo credit: Rolf Larsen, except from documentation of Wave machine by Marte Aas where the artist is to be credited. Izabela Żółcińska is to be credited for the two last images of her work.

ARm #1

Photo: Peeter Laurits

Photo: Sakib Saboor

Photo: Signe Lidén

Photo: Sakib Saboor

Photo: Sakib Saboor

Photo: Sakib Saboor

Photo: Peeter Laurits

Photo: Peeter Laurits

Photo: Peeter Laurits

The place: Slettnes Fyr, Gamvik, Sápmi

Photo: Signe Lidén

Hilde Mehti with teodolitt. Photo: Signe Lidén Looking through Methis teodolitt Photo: Signe Lidén Photo: Signe Lidén Photo: Signe Lidén

Stills underwater video by Margrethe Pettersen

On the red algea by Izabela Zolcinska

Microscopic images of RED TIDE water samples that Izabela Zolcinska collected during ARM#1

watch RED TIDE WATER SAMPLE VIDEO by Izabela Zolcinska

Photo: Signe Lidén

“The water samples I have collected from the pond in coastal rocks in a high tidal/ spray zone reveal the presence of microalgae that contain reddish pigment colouring water as a cause of their bloom and high density. Such behaviour is recognizable in many places and is interesting from the local/global perspective. It is directing me towards the “red tide” notion, colloquially used as a term for “harmful algal bloom” (HABs) in narration, evoking fear towards these beings. HABs are caused by certain species containing pigments that vary in colour from green to brown to red. Sometimes there is no colour indication. Of the 5000+ species of marine phytoplankton that exist worldwide, about 2% are known to be harmful or toxic. .3 Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with the tidal movement of water. I see this as a starting point for my narration. The phenomenon of red tide has been observed since ancient times. It has also currently a stigma status. ”

the_red_tide_slettnes_2022.pdf

Photo: Signe Lidén

Collective recordings

Underwater recordings from the different tidal pools. All recordings is mixed into one file. The first part of the recording is from one deep pool (ca 1 m) with one hydrophone, first at high tide, later at low tide.

Making tidal microphones

Signe lead a workshop in making hydrophones with shell+sea urchin-housing.

Lunar calendar:

Tidal pool recording, Halsnøy 2020