Silent Barrage is an robotic installation produced by SymbioticA, The Centre of Excellence in Biological Arts at The School of Anatomy & Human Biology, University of Western Australia. The work aims to connect visitors to cultured nerve cells through an architectural/sculptural context, allowing users to connect and ‘see’ microscopic worlds and in turn those microscopic worlds to have an influence within our macroscopic world.

Each pole in the arrangement represents a region in the culture dish, and the movements of the individual robots correspond to the level of activity in the area. The robots markings on the poles hint to the continuous neuronal activity, conjuring traces of “memories” of past actions. The movement of audience in the Silent Barrage’s space is used to stimulate the culture. Nerve cells activity usually happens when a certain combination of stimulations reaches a threshold; the same can be said about our decision making. The navigation through Silent Barrage is made out of a series of incremental decisions made in an overly stimulated environment, out of the context of daily life. The nerve cells are also out of context, removed from the brain they once belong to, they are cultured in an artificial environment, trying to make connections with the cells around them. The barrage of activity is a symptom, can pairing cells and the audience can help make “meaningful” connections that will quieten the barrage? Can it happen in a place which is nothing but quiet?

While clearly an ambitious and admirable work, it does make some dubious claims such as being “One of the very few real art and science works” when there are quite a few spanning various combinations of the arts and sciences (in this area alone Edwardo Kac and Ken Rinaldo have been prolifically producing work for years).

Originally seen at VVork.