Bill Fontana

b. 1947, Cleveland, USA. Lives and works in San Francisco

Primal Sonic Visions: Geothermal Energy, 2018
Single-channel video, 22’ 44”
Courtesy of the artist

American sound artist Bill Fontana’s large-scale project exploring alternative sources of energy was commissioned by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Featuring over twenty recordings from across the planet, the work allows us to see and hear the energy of the Sun, wind, water, and Earth. For the exhibition at Garage, Fontana has made a compilation of four tracks recorded in Iceland and Italy that focus on geothermal energy.

A believer in the huge potential of renewable energy for the future and the necessity of developing it today in order to mitigate the environmental impact of the fossil fuel economy, Fontana has created a deeply moving piece. This meditative video and its immersive soundtrack give the audience an experience of the primal power and beauty of wind, water, and thermal springs, which, Fontana believes, can in turn bring a better understanding of our relationship with the planet and its resources. Ultimately, this experience can be at least as convincing as any scientific conference or public debate on climate change.