The Living Pump Station
ABOUT
The Living Pump Station is a temporary site-specific sound installation at the pumping station in Bronkhorst. On occasion of the IJsselbiënnale 2025 and responding to the curatorial theme of “grenzen” (boundaries), the artwork invites visitors to take time to experience the rich sensory environment of the location, to reflect on the boundaries between natural and artificial, between living organisms and machines, and to appreciate the fragile balance of life which is so vividly apparent in this characteristic Dutch landscape.
CONTEXT
The pump station is a machine which is labouring ceaselessly to sustain the boundary between land and water. It stands on the top of the dike as a guard tower protecting Bronkhorst from the river. As its engines work, concealed in an elegant and monumental white modernist shell, from outside we hear a droning sound that has meditative musical qualities. A robotic claw suspended from a rail over the drainage canal quietly clears the inlet from debris. To support human life in this artificial landscape, engineers have created a living machine. All around it we see biological life: trees dance in the wind across the water, a flock of crows flies above while waterfowl feed on fish swimming up the canal.
The Living Pump Station is a temporary site-specific sound installation at the pumping station in Bronkhorst. On occasion of the IJsselbiënnale 2025 and responding to the curatorial theme of “grenzen” (boundaries), the artwork invites visitors to take time to experience the rich sensory environment of the location, to reflect on the boundaries between natural and artificial, between living organisms and machines, and to appreciate the fragile balance of life which is so vividly apparent in this characteristic Dutch landscape.
CONTEXT
The pump station is a machine which is labouring ceaselessly to sustain the boundary between land and water. It stands on the top of the dike as a guard tower protecting Bronkhorst from the river. As its engines work, concealed in an elegant and monumental white modernist shell, from outside we hear a droning sound that has meditative musical qualities. A robotic claw suspended from a rail over the drainage canal quietly clears the inlet from debris. To support human life in this artificial landscape, engineers have created a living machine. All around it we see biological life: trees dance in the wind across the water, a flock of crows flies above while waterfowl feed on fish swimming up the canal.
DESCRIPTION
Two loudspeakers are suspended on the rail by the inlet side of the pump station. Visitors are invited to approach the speakers and to listen to a generative music composition which is based on real time environmental data captured by sensors.
The music establishes a link between the pump station as a living machine, and the biological life surrounding it. A machine learning algorithm is used to recognise and analyse the calls of birds vocalising in the surroundings. This in combination with weather data, drives a digital music synthesis program generating electronic music in real time.
The work has been realised in such a way as to minimise the impact on the acoustic environment. Directional loudspeakers have been chosen which direct the sound to the listening position. The loudness is limited to well below environmental limitations, so that the sound is audible only in proximity to the speakers. Additionally, the algorithm actively avoids interfering with bird vocalisations, by searching for and generating sounds which occupy portions of the acoustic spectrum not utilised by animal communication.
Two loudspeakers are suspended on the rail by the inlet side of the pump station. Visitors are invited to approach the speakers and to listen to a generative music composition which is based on real time environmental data captured by sensors.
The music establishes a link between the pump station as a living machine, and the biological life surrounding it. A machine learning algorithm is used to recognise and analyse the calls of birds vocalising in the surroundings. This in combination with weather data, drives a digital music synthesis program generating electronic music in real time.
The work has been realised in such a way as to minimise the impact on the acoustic environment. Directional loudspeakers have been chosen which direct the sound to the listening position. The loudness is limited to well below environmental limitations, so that the sound is audible only in proximity to the speakers. Additionally, the algorithm actively avoids interfering with bird vocalisations, by searching for and generating sounds which occupy portions of the acoustic spectrum not utilised by animal communication.
The loudspeakers utilised are replicas of multicellular horns of the Altec Lansing 1505 model, chosen for their visual and acoustic properties. The geometry of these speakers aligns with the modernist design of the building.
The speakers hang on steel beams extending from the existing structure, appearing as an integral and original part of the pump station. From this position above the listener, the work invites listeners to look up to the sky and observe the weather and birds flying above, while the robotic claw that keeps the inlet clear of debris occasionally works in the background.
The speakers hang on steel beams extending from the existing structure, appearing as an integral and original part of the pump station. From this position above the listener, the work invites listeners to look up to the sky and observe the weather and birds flying above, while the robotic claw that keeps the inlet clear of debris occasionally works in the background.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The Living Pump Station is accessible from June 21st to September 14th 2025, between 10:00 and 18:00 at the address Veerweg 1, Bronkhorst.
AUDIO RECORDING
Location audio recording, captured 12 July 2025, unedited, duration circa 20’.
CREDITS
Concept and realisation:
Matteo Marangoni
Commissioner:
IJsselbiënnale
3D design and horn fabrication:
Luuk Meints, Ionela Pop
Structural analysis:
Pieter Pollemans
Metal work:
Visser Techniek B.V.
Production Assistants:
Kacper Ziemianin
Sandu Cojocari
Matteo Marangoni
Commissioner:
IJsselbiënnale
3D design and horn fabrication:
Luuk Meints, Ionela Pop
Structural analysis:
Pieter Pollemans
Metal work:
Visser Techniek B.V.
Production Assistants:
Kacper Ziemianin
Sandu Cojocari
Volunteers build-up:
Titus Reith
Albert Tiebot
PJ
Liason Water Board:
Robert Groen
Advisors ecology:
Bastiaan van Zuidam
Evert-Jan Breukink
Advisors digital audio and composition:
Riccardo Marogna
Ezequiel Menalled
Advisor IoT:
Stephan Olde
Titus Reith
Albert Tiebot
PJ
Liason Water Board:
Robert Groen
Advisors ecology:
Bastiaan van Zuidam
Evert-Jan Breukink
Advisors digital audio and composition:
Riccardo Marogna
Ezequiel Menalled
Advisor IoT:
Stephan Olde
Advisor electrical system:
Erfan Abdi
Artist agent:
Yannik Güldner / iii
Location partners:
WARC
Kunstruimte Veer
Institutional partners:
Waterschap Rijn en IJssel
Gemeente Bronkhorst
Additional funding:
Performing Arts Fund NL
Creative Industries Fund NL
Erfan Abdi
Artist agent:
Yannik Güldner / iii
Location partners:
WARC
Kunstruimte Veer
Institutional partners:
Waterschap Rijn en IJssel
Gemeente Bronkhorst
Additional funding:
Performing Arts Fund NL
Creative Industries Fund NL
