In recent years, when I travel to a new place, I have made the piece “EAR” as a symbolic act to mention a listening that is situated and attentive to the place. When I was invited to Argentina, and especially to two regions such as Santa Fe and Rosario, rich in canals and river landscapes, I thought of making an “EAR,” but this time, an ear that listens underwater.

In fish, otoliths are used for orientation and hearing, and they also contain crucial information about their age and growth, which is why they are called “the black box of fish.” Otoliths are similar to the bones in the human inner ear. Otoliths are suspended in fluid-filled sacs and, as in humans, aid in balance and orientation.

The Otolith sculpture/intrument floats stably and contains an underwater recording device with a hydrophone that can be programmed for long recordings at various times and remotely in order to monitor and capture the sounds of the river and its inhabitants.

The recordings were made in the areas of the Ubacai River in San José del Rincón and at various points along the Paraná River in Rosario. These recordings will be published in special editions in audio format (vinyl records, cassettes). 

This project is part of my series of underwater recordings of rivers, which began in 2022 with recordings I made on the Danube in Linz (Austria) and Budapest (Hungary).

Construction of the Otolith sculpture and floating device for underwater field recordings

Otoliths are a very important part of the inner ear of bony fish. They are calcareous structures deposited by the endolymphatic fluid of the labyrinth, which are housed in two adjacent cavities of the neurocranium: the otic capsules.

There are three pairs of otoliths: sagitta (sacculus), lapillus (utriculus), and asteriscus (lagena). Of these three structures, the sagitta is most commonly used to determine age and is linked to hearing function. If both sagittas are surgically removed, the fish swims normally but does not react to the range of sounds as it normally would.

Otoliths, like tree rings, grow in layers, allowing scientists to determine the age, growth rate, and living environment of fish.

Otoliths are said to be talismans capable of attracting success and fortune, as well as remedying headaches. They have also been used for years by sailors to find the best route.

The Phoenicians who went out to sea believed that this bone would help them return home safely. Not only did it show sailors the way home, but it was also believed to guide the dead. The presence of these small bones in burial sites suggests that they were used as a source of light on the dark journey to the underworld, in the same way that the Romans placed coins on the eyes of the deceased.

The Legend of King Arthur: Legend has it that the wizard Merlin gave King Arthur an otolith that changed color if the monarch did not act righteously. The stone never changed color, symbolizing Arthur's good reign.

This project was carried out with the help, guidance, and support of Maximiliano Peralta Rodríguez and Cintia Clara Romero from Curadora Residencia in Santa Fe, Argentina. With the collaboration of artists Rocio Rivadeneyra and Toti D'Stefano. Project carried out within the framework of the Constelaciones residency grant from Red Quincho and the Spanish Cultural Center in Argentina.