SALITRE (2020)

In this performance, I merged sound art and visual abstraction, creating an immersive experience aimed at evoking a deep sense of peace in the audience. The work emerged organically, without predetermined structure or sequence, allowing it to flow as naturally as a thought or feeling.

The inspiration came from a sensory text written by my classmate at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Belén Rodriguez. Her words—“sin tiempo definido, ni dirección concreta”—became the heartbeat of the performance, a guide that encouraged freedom and spontaneity. This piece was not designed to follow a script but rather to embrace the unpredictability of the moment, inviting those present to simply feel, to exist within the abstract harmony of sound and image.

DESCRIPTION

Artist: Eliana Araque
Year: 2020
Location: Spain
Live Sound art & Performance
Final duration: 00:08:29

Words and phrases taken from the text: the beach, coldness.
My technical and expressive reference to produce the audio was the work Sistema Solar (2020) by my dear friend Ametz.

The choice of this reference was the key to generating an immersive live experience. With the purpose of transmitting a feeling of peace and comfort as described in the text: “No hay apenas sonidos, aunque los que hay son suaves y relajantes. Sólo hay paz.” (There are hardly any sounds, although those there are soft and relaxing. There is only peace). I gave equal importance to both silence and sound, light, and darkness.

The sounds had to be subtle, so I had to try the different microphones available at the faculty, as not all of them register the sound in the same detail and are not equally suitable for a live performance.

I emphasized on the sound of the water with a Chilean sound craft, and for the wind I introduced the sound of a Mexican artisanal ocarina To evoke the natural environment of the beach, I relied on my own breath, mostly the exhalations, to simulate the waves.  These sounds were alternated with light touches to the microphone so that, in combination with the output effect (delay / echo), sounded like the beating of a heart; pops, murmurs and some high notes intoned for seconds. As this is a story in a natural environment, I also wanted to stimulate the smell of the attendees with eucalyptus incense, to generate a feeling of comfort and freshness.

 To integrate these elements and generate a narrative line like the one in the text, I made a white light projection on a round mirror, in a container that I filled with water, and with a crystal ball and a kaleidoscope I distorted the light. The projection ended with a red led light literally representing the phrase leve rojizo que se refleja en el agua (the slight reddish text that is reflected in the water).

In this project I embodied the powerful experience of collaboration with my fellow friends and colleagues. All my gratitude to them.