Magnetic Fluctuations

Activation of the installation by Sébastien Robert
La Centrale, Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Magnetic Fluctuations is a tailor-made generative system that Sébastien Robert has been developing over the past three years in close collaboration with Dutch radio astronomer Rob Stammes. At the heart of the system is a modular synthesizer that translates in real time data from magnetometers, ultra-sensitive microphones and antennas installed at the Polar Light Center, an auroral activity monitoring station located in Lofoten, Norway. These data,

reflecting variations in electromagnetic activity, directly influence key sound parameters such as pitch, velocity and timing, transforming the aurora borealis into a dynamic musical composition. At the crossroads of composition and performance, the system operates with minimal procedural control while generating rich, complex soundscapes, creating a space where the northern lights can continually manifest their presence. Magnetic Fluctuations is also presented as a real-time generative sound installation throughout the Biennale.

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Photo: Magnetic Fluctuation, © Sébastien Robert