Carlos Casas

LACUNAE 2025

Following the research process, LACUNAE has been presented live at various stages of the project, including different contributions each time between June and November 2025.

LACUNAE explores a speculative narrative of the origin of Venice. By capturing the above and underwater richness of spatial sounds, the project creates an unprecedented auditory map of the lagoon. It aims to foster new ways of connecting with neighboring species and environments, illuminating the unexplored and benthic zones of the lagoon. Sonifying and transducing climate data into sound, the final output will make complex and abstract concepts more tangible and accessible. LACUNAE is a film and sound installation that immerses the audience in a spatial model of the Venice lagoon using ambisonic recordings. Spectators journey through layers of sound, from atmospheric ambiences to underwater depths. They experience the turbid waters' sonic textures, including migrating birds, fish, gray shrimp, and mussels, alongside human activities from ports, infrastructure, and research. The installation invites exploration of the lagoon’s ecological and cultural dimensions, offering a dynamic auditory perspective on this unique environment.

LACUNAE was first presented as an ongoing sound installation at POROUS, organized by TBA21–Academy and Villa Arson in June 2025, with the support of the European Commission Initiative S+T+ARTS4Water II on the occasion of World Ocean Day, the United Nations Conference on the Oceans & Biennale des Arts et de l'Océan 2025. Later that month, it was premiered at TBA21 Solstice Festival, curated by María Montero Sierra at Ocean Space, Venice, as part of the concluding event of the TBA21–Academy's residency program, organized within the framework of STARTS4WaterII and featuring live performance, sound, and participatory installation dedicated to deep listening to the multispecies stories of the Venice lagoon. LACUNAE's live installation at Ocean Space, Venice, in November 2025, marks the culmination of the artist's residency and extended research of the Venice Lagoon multispecies auditory map.

This work was commissioned by TBA21–Academy within the framework of the S+T+ARTS 4Water II residency program with the support of Konsortium Deutsche Meeresforschung (KDM) within the Prep4Blue project as a contribution to the EU Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, and with the collaboration of Ca' Foscari, CNR-ISMAR, ETT, and Venice International University.