GUY COOPER - ART & MUSIC
SCULPTOR, ARTIST, MUSICIAN, COMPOSER & MUSIC PRODUCER.
World Tree Melody
Interactive sculpture and audio installation
2023
Recently exhibited at the World Science Festival Brisbane (Queensland Museum)
About
The World Tree Melody is a motion activated, interactive sculpture and audio installation. Powered by 2 custom Arduino controllers, 7 channel 24bit-48khz Audio samplers, 4 motion sensors and 400+lines of code, the sculpture and audio installation plays over 8hrs of unique and evolving music composed by the audience's interaction.
Built from copper pipe & leaves and an organic tree core, the sculpture's visitors create an ever-evolving melodic soundscape. The sounds are sampled from the voices of Calliope State School students, combined with organic nature recordings from the Gold Coast, custom multi-timbal samples and synthesis to compose a soundscape that brings people and the living trees together in perfect harmony.
The music samples embedded in the piece that build the core of the experience were composed by the sculptor Guy Cooper and collaborator Jake Morton from Serotonin Productions.
Music from the World Tree Melody Can be heard on Spotify here -->
Concept
The year is 2080 all but a few living trees remain on Earth. Despite the endless scientific data and warnings, the climate catastrophe accelerated and Earths delicate ecosystems have collapsed. The generations that followed were forced to develop life support systems for the remaining trees to create the photosynthesis needed to continue the planets inhabitable survival.
The World Tree Melody is an organic, bionic, symbiotic energy exchange machine. It requires the interaction and love of human visitors to survive and convert the carbon dioxide into oxygen via the symbiotic relationship it has with humans and the technology that surrounds it. The motion, interaction, and love of visitors to the tree help generate an ever-evolving melody that both the tree and the people need to thrive and continue providing for a healthy earth.
“I love sound and the combination of music, art and science. Being inspired by the ideas of students at Calliope State School was a real treat for this piece. Thank you for helping to play the music it creates today.”
Guy Cooper
World Tree Melody is an interactive sound sculpture with an evolving musical score that is performed by you. Motion sensors placed around the tree are triggered by your movement and presence to generate the evolving composition you hear. Combining motion sensors, an Arduino programmed computer, lighting, copper pipe and an organic tree core, the sculpture's visitors create an ever-evolving melodic soundscape.
The sounds are sampled from the voices of Calliope State School students, combined with organic nature recordings, custom multi-timbal samples and synthesis on the Gold Coast to compose a soundscape that brings people and the living trees together in perfect harmony.
World Tree Melody is a concept inspired by the Calliope State School students and artist Guy Cooper as a futuristic tree on life support. An organic, bionic, symbiotic energy exchange machine. Requiring the interaction and love of human visitors to survive and convert the carbon dioxide into oxygen via the symbiotic relationship it has with humans and the technology that surrounds it.
The motion, interaction, and love of visitors to the tree help generate an ever-evolving melody that both the tree and the people need to thrive and continue providing for a healthy earth.
