Francisca Rocha Gonçalves and Christian Dimpker are an interdisciplinary duo who merge the boundaries between visual composition, sound art and ecological research. Francisca, an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in biological sciences and digital media, explores underwater soundscapes and the impact of anthropogenic noise on aquatic ecosystems, translating scientific research into immersive artistic experiences. Christian, a composer and art theorist with a PhD in Musicology and Composition, is known for his innovative notation systems and his vast body of work, ranging from instrumental and electroacoustic compositions to scores for light ballets, video and performance.
Together, they collaborate at the intersection of Christian's visual and compositional practices and Francisca's ecological and artistic-scientific approach, creating performances and installations that promote new dialogues between human beings, technology and the natural world. They have collaborated on concerts at venues such as the Schwartzsche Villa, Kunsthaus KuLe, ACUD in Berlin, TONALi Saal in Hamburg and audiovisual performances at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Oeiras Valley Science in Lisbon.
During this week-long artist residency at the Museu Zer0, we focused on the underwater ecologies of the Ria Formosa, exploring the districts of Faro, Tavira and Olhão, as well as Culatra Island. Through sound recordings and video documentation, conversations with local scientists, fishermen and NGOs active in the Ria Formosa, we understand the dynamics and experiences of the region. We learnt about the history of the Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo Olive Oil Producers' Agricultural Cooperative and the traces of its past activity through the equipment that remained as silent narrators. This residency will serve as the basis for a site-specific audiovisual work combining the ecological, social and historical narratives of the Ria Formosa.
