Description

What do a mass of wriggling composting maggots sound like?

While I was at an organic farm in Les, Bali, I started considering this question. I put bioelectric sensors in the composting bin, and discovered fluctuating pulses of activity, a sort of bio-signature of their writhing bodies.

Every organism is alive and produces faint bioelectric signals. Each maggot’s movements produce faint electrical pulses that correspond to ionic movements in its body.

Together, the maggots create a field of insect activity, as they munch on food waste and rub against the sensor probes.

My software captured the insects’ signals, and then mapped this live data into musical notes using various digital instruments, creating a live composition from their bio-electric activity.

Maggots are essential in the transformation of decay into life. They consume waste, recycle nutrients, and enrich soil. Their work sustains countless other species. They are decay-eaters, and this soundscape reflects that beautiful role in our ecosystem.