Ritmos Circadianos (LIVE PRESENTATION) by DavidVelezRod

In this presentation, David Vélez connected us with the rhythms, frequencies, flavors, and nutrients through which edible plants and human beings communicate. To do so, Vélez, along with a group of collaborators, prepared a vegetarian Circadian Sancocho, a stew whose broth was the result of slow, prolonged cooking, allowing it to absorb all the energy, nutrients, and aromas of the vegetables. Some of these vegetables had been previously grown under sonic stimulation, using sounds developed by Vélez in his research.

The presentation began with a talk by Vélez on the contribution of sound art to horticulture, accompanied by a tasting of the vegetable soup. Afterwards, Vélez gave a presentation using the same sounds that had been used to stimulate the vegetables in the soup.

Research

Plants are exceptionally sensitive, which allows them to communicate with the organisms that make up their environment. In the case of humans, biologist Fatimah Jackson suggests that some plants cultivated for human consumption communicate with us through the flavors and nutritional value of their fruits, roots, stems, and leaves—seeking to ensure their own survival through agricultural demand.

On the other hand, in 1974, sound artist Dorothy Retallack discovered that sound can enhance the growth of edible plants, demonstrating how sound art can enrich our relationship and communication with these species. The positive reaction of vegetables to certain sounds, according to Collins and Foreman, occurs when sinusoidal acoustic vibrations remove dirt particles that block the stomata on their leaves, thus stimulating their ability to breathe and transpire—two vital processes in the absorption and production of nutrients.