Today (30/07) marks the last day of Marco Barotti's 'The Woodpeckers' art display as the city’s biennial arts festival comes to an end.
Over the last 21 days, Milton Keynes has been host to a variety of art displays and live performances as part of IF: Milton Keynes International Festival, a celebration of the innovative local artistic culture.
One of the most popular displays were the robotic woodpeckers, which popped up and flocked unexpectedly to locations across Milton Keynes, stretching from Station Square to centre:mk.
'The Woodpeckers' aimed to create a live soundscape, unique to Milton Keynes. They underwent constant transformation and variation as they appeared in different areas throughout Central Milton Keynes each day.
The robotic woodpeckers transformed invisible signals in real-time from wireless technology and mobile communications into audible and visible acoustic rhythmic beats - tapped out on urban architecture around the town.
The Woodpeckers: LAST DAY
— IF: Milton Keynes International Festival (@IFMKfest) July 30, 2021
Today is the final day for our robotic peckers in #MiltonKeynes - after they're done at 3pm maybe they could go for a bounce, a bowl, a quick ski or a movie! 🐦
Here are a few of our favourite photos over the last 21 days! #IFMKfest
📸 @shaunarmstrong pic.twitter.com/GRhezJxfGM
The creator of this ever-evolving composition and sonic adventure is Berlin-based media artist Marco Barotti. After studying music at the Siena Jazz Academy, Marco began merging sound with visual art.
His work is driven by a desire to invent an artistic language expressed through kinetic sound interventions in natural and urban environments. His installations merge audio technology, consumer objects, and waste into moving sculptures triggered entirely by sound.
The primary focus of his work is to create a ‘tech ecosystem’ that plays with resemblances to animals and plants. The resulting artworks served as a metaphor for the destructive human impact on the planet and aimed to make people aware of environmental issues.
To see Marco Barotti speak about his creation and the inspiration behind the display, you can watch a short film by clicking here.
