The Extension of Expansion by Valentina Berthelon Audiovisual Generative Installation
Conceptual Approach of the Installation
What if the boundaries we perceive are not fixed, but vary according to our perspective? The Extension of Expansion invites participants to explore a universe where the self dissolves into a network of subatomic particles. Inspired by quantum physics, stellar data, and spiritual traditions, the work reimagines our place in the cosmos. Through complementarity, a principle of quantum mechanics, it demonstrates how humans exist simultaneously as physical bodies and fields of energy. This concept of interconnectedness resonates with spiritual traditions that view the self as inseparable from the universe.
Scientific and Sonic Collaborations
In collaboration with Antonio Hales, astrophysicist at the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), I have transformed spectral data from seven types of stars into visual and sonic forms. This data inspires the generative landscapes of the installation, where stellar spectrograms are presented as meta- phors to perceive the invisible. The sound and music were developed in collaboration with the women’s collective Vulva Atómica, Max Loderbauer, Federica Parente, Bruno Gola, Prof. Alberto de Campo, and Tobias Freund.
Installation Experience
The large-scale cinematic projection and evolving soundscapes create an immersive experience, inviting participants to employ their most advanced technology—body, mind, and spirit—to tune into universal cycles and the invisible energies surrounding us. By immersing themselves in this sensory experience, participants are called to explore, question, and reconnect with their inner self, transforming knowledge into lived experiences. This work seeks to open horizons where spirituality and ritual, in dialogue with science, intertwine as paths of transformation and healing for the future.
Spectral Data Sonification
In parallel, and as a complement to the installation, I collaborated with Prof. Alberto de Campo and sound artist Bruno Gola from the University of the Arts Berlin (UDK) to develop an interactive system in SuperCollider that sonifies spectral data from stars provided by Antonio Hales. Each star has its own rhythm, influenced by its spectral lines. The application allows users to combine up to three stars at once, creating unique soundscapes by manipulating parameters such as resonance and speed.