Circadian Rhythm
Installation Concept by Tamara Montenegro

Circadian Rhythm is a sound and light installation designed to translate the living acoustic patterns of biodiverse ecosystems into immersive environments that realign the human body with the rhythms of the Earth. Drawing from the rich, layered soundscapes of island environments such as Ishigaki’s northern peninsula, the project weaves together terrestrial and marine recordings—captured using high-sensitivity AudioMoth devices and hydrophones—into a continuously evolving spatial composition of light and sound.

The heart of the installation is a resonant “living room”—a gallery-based lab and sanctuary where projected color and sound respond in real time to the natural circadian cycles of the environment. Here, dawn choruses, crepuscular calls, and nocturnal pulses are rendered through shifting hues and spatialized audio, inviting participants into a multisensory experience of attunement. This space is not merely for observation but for re-regulation: a meditative environment that nurtures nervous system health through deep listening and sensory immersion.

Circadian Rhythm is also a platform for community engagement and collective exploration. It includes participatory sound walks, DIY sound sampling workshops, and knowledge exchanges with local communities to co-identify significant sonic landmarks and ecological touchpoints. By tuning into the sonic nuances of a place—its rhythms, silences, and thresholds—the project fosters a grounded sense of presence and ecological connection.

Technologically precise yet poetically open, Circadian Rhythm is ready to be realized in partnership with ecologically attuned institutions, galleries, and research centers. It proposes not only an artistic experience but a healing practice—reclaiming the circadian rhythm as a shared, sacred pulse that links all living systems.