DATA SHEET
Title / Título:
Liquid transparency / Transparencia líquida
Team members / Miembros del equipo:
Cachito Vallés (ES) artist / artista, Áurea Muñoz del Amo (ES) artist / artista, Carmen Salazar Pera (ES) artist / artista, Rocío García Robles (ES) artist, engineer / artista, ingeniera
Scientist / Científico:
Carlos Rodero García (ES) biologist and researcher / biólogo e investigador
Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM, CSIC)
Seed / Semilla:
“BoyaKduino y transparencia del agua”
Technique / Técnica:
Nano PC tubes, carbon steel, ws2811 LED, PLA filament, custom electronics and software / Tubos nano PC, acero al carbono, LED ws2811, filamento PLA, electrónica y software personalizados
Dimensions / Dimensiones:
Variable dimensions / Dimensiones variables
SEED
The color of the sea has been an intriguing phenomenon since ancient times. Over time, the ever-changing colors of lakes and seas amazed travelers and inspired painters and writers. Later, scientists interested in explaining the phenomenon realized that sea color and transparency could be related to organic and inorganic material. There were even navigators and explorers who associated chromatic changes with the topography of the seabed.
Knowing the diffuse attenuation of light in water (Kd parameter) allows us to estimate water quality based on transparency. Thanks to the involvement of people in a citizen science project and their active role in building their own low-cost devices, we can obtain more information about the different processes occurring in the water and their early detection, such as the appearance of algal blooms or pollution spills into the sea. The Kduino buoy and its successor KduPRO are equipped with light sensors placed at different depths, allowing data collection and calculation of light attenuation in the water column.
THE VISION OF THE CREATORS OF THE WORK
The transparency of water, which under certain circumstances allows us to see the depths of the sea or the bed of a spring, is the result of a delicate balance between light and the matter it contains. Thus, we are not always aware of the transformations occurring in aquatic environments and the entropic processes that can alter the state of transparency.
From the perspective of the artists who created the piece titled Liquid Transparency, the goal is to give voice to the water, so the viewer can perceive what scientific data reveal to us. The reference for this work is related to the readings of water color tones collected by scientists at various points in the Mediterranean Sea. The scientific conclusion is that humans play an active role in the changes the water undergoes, affecting its transparency and, consequently, the way light interacts with it, altering its colors.
In this interactive installation, visitors are invited to take an “underwater walk” that encourages them to perceive how the qualities of water are altered, among other factors, by human presence. This artistic proposal aims to contribute to the understanding of the phenomena causing changes in our aquatic environment detected by scientists, encouraging reflection that promotes us the protection and appreciation of the natural heritage represented by the water masses of the “blue planet.”
CURATOR'S VISION OF THE WORK
The work Liquid Transparency invites us to explore various concepts that resonate deeply with philosophical questions about reality, perception, and human interaction with the natural world. Just as substances in water can obscure its transparency, misinformation or lack of awareness can cloud our understanding of current environmental issues. The changing transparency and colors of the water, influenced by human presence, suggest a dialogue about the boundaries between our activity and natural processes. It invites us to think that all parts of the universe are interconnected and that changes in one part can affect the whole.
The act of walking through the installation can be seen as a metaphor for the journey of life, making us aware that the choices one makes impact one’s surroundings. It raises questions about the nature of cause and effect and the potential for transformation through self-awareness and individual and collective action. It not only sheds light on the dynamic and often invisible changes occurring within aquatic environments but also fosters a deeper understanding and connection between humanity and marine ecosystems, turning this ‘underwater walk’ into a call to action, while aligning with the hopeful message that we indeed can ‘turn the tide’ by adopting more sustainable practices and respecting our natural heritage.
While humans have the capacity to disrupt the natural balance, we also possess the power to restore it. By making visible the invisible changes in our waters, the installation empowers viewers to become part of a movement toward greater ecological awareness.
Con la colaboración de la Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología – Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades @fecyt_ciencia
