2024
The Italian artists Milena Berta and Alessandro Pedretti, who make up the duo MOLOM , were in residence throughout the month of October with the project “Of Matters and Frequencies” (OMAF Part 1)
OMAF is a sound and research project designed to explore themes such as enhancing environmental perception through multisensory experiences, finding fertile ground in the islands of the Azores.
The artists traverse the islands of the triangle equipped with ultra-sensitive microphones, seeking to record sounds and collect samples of nature to create a sound piece using materials and frequencies that resulted in the live performance “VOLCANIC SILENCE.”
“MOLOM” brings together sound and matter. While Milena works the stone, generating a wide variety of sounds (such as the clatter of chisels, pieces of marble breaking away from the rough block, and hammers striking), Alessandro records using microphones and a sound mixing console. This (in)harmonic sonic richness is processed in real time and takes the form of an extemporaneous composition in a contemporary key.
Creative work at the studio AVISTAVULCÃO
Public presentation of the final results of the MOLOM duo’s residency
VOLCANIC SILENCE is a sonic and gestural exploration born from the profound interaction between sound, matter, and the ever-changing landscape of the Azores islands. Volcanic rocks, black sand, the ocean, caves sculpted by lava flows, and the ruins of lighthouses—symbols of a world that oscillates between destruction and rebirth—become the key elements of a narrative that explores nature’s meditative and transformative potential.
Using contact microphones on rocks and volcanic ash, processed by electronic devices and digital software, the performance unfolds as a continuous flow of sound and gesture. The performers’ actions, captured by the microphones, generate a sonic dialogue between the material and the recordings collected during the artist residency at Avista Vulcão in October 2024.
The sound of the ocean and the movement of water, reproduced and reworked in real time, intensify the perception of a constantly evolving nature, in a ritual of transformation and reconstruction. Like a solitary sailor listening to the world from the ocean, the spectator is invited to immerse themselves in a state of contemplation, where the discovery of the landscape becomes the focal point."
BOOKLET
Through the visual component, Milena brought a new artistic dimension to the project, enriching the audience’s experience. The artist, who holds a degree in Fine Arts, created a series of illustrations inspired by the landscape of the Azores, which gave rise to a small, handcrafted publication.
This little book, screen-printed and carefully crafted by hand, reflects the sensitivity of an artistic gaze upon the territory and invites contemplation of nature and local memory.
As a way to share and celebrate this creation, the book was given to all concertgoers, reinforcing the connection between art, landscape, and community.
WORKSHOP
As part of their artist residency, the artists led a sound experimentation workshop with students from Capelo Elementary School, offering a deeply engaging educational and sensory experience.
The activity began with a live performance, during which the artists presented an original sound composition created using unconventional instruments, everyday objects, and natural materials collected in the area. This performance sparked the children’s interest and curiosity; they were invited to listen closely to the sounds and imagine possible meanings, landscapes, or emotions evoked.
Following the presentation, a practical and interactive phase ensued. The children had the opportunity to freely experiment with the instruments and materials used, exploring different ways of producing sound. In collaboration with the artists, they were challenged to create spontaneous compositions, combining rhythms, textures, and noises in an intuitive and creative manner.
The workshop fostered the development of active listening, individual expression, and group work, while introducing students to the world of sound art and contemporary creation. It was a moment of playful learning, where play, imagination, and sound came together to provide an accessible and transformative artistic experience.
This initiative had a very positive impact on the school community, reinforcing the importance of bringing innovative artistic experiences to schools and building bridges between artists, the local community, and education.
Milena, a stone sculptor trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, born and raised in Valle Camonica—the first UNESCO site recognized for its rock engravings—wishes to build on the experience she has gained through projects aimed at promoting the region (La memoria delle pietre, S/TONES, Eco del Silenzio) and to explore a new type of stone, focusing on the concept of the importance of the matrix and the resulting fragments as a new artistic material.
Alessandro, a musician and composer, focuses on sound manipulation and composition, creating granular and ethereal sound textures using digital audio effects and production processes (Hologram Microcosm, Roland SP404mk2, Polyend Tracker, Empress Zoia) and analog (tape recorders for tape loops), as well as using chiseled fragments, metal resonances, and stone chips to create micro-crystalline and prismatic sounds.
