Antoine Bertin sonifies DNA and deforestation at Code Is Law exhibition

The final episode of 'Code Is Law' shines a spotlight on Antoine Bertin, a French artist born in 1985, who transforms data into sound. At the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles in Paris, his 1910 mechanical piano plays 'Species Counterpoint' (2020), a composition inspired by the DNA of both plants and humans. He connects musical notes to the four life-essential nucleotides, resulting in a nine-part piece that echoes fundamental life processes like sleeping and breathing. Built from natural materials like maple and sheep wool, the piano even 'breathes' during its play. The exhibition also showcases '333 Hz,' an installation of twenty metronome logs that represent deforestation since 2001. Recently, Bertin has converted the genetic data of SARS-CoV-2 into sound. A virtual tour is offered, and the opening event on February 6, 2021, features Jonathan Schatz's performance 'Minakami' at 6:30 PM. Organized by curators Carine Le Malet and Jean-Luc Soret, the exhibition runs until February 28, 2021, with contributions from various artists.