Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption

February 21 – May 4, 2025

Patricia Cadavid’s Electronic_Khipu is an instrument for interaction and experimental sound generation, operated by weaving knots with conductive rubber cords into which sound compositions are encoded. This instrument is based on an Andean quipu, the ancient textile “computer” used for the processing, encryption, and transmission of information in knots and cords of cotton and wool. KHIPUMANCY is a Performance Documentation Video that documents the performance of KHIPUMANCY, presented at the Ars Electronica Festival in 2021. In this collaborative performance, Patricia Cadavid and Paola Torres Núñez del Prado explore the interplay between tradition and technology, performing with their respective khipus: the Electronic_Khipuand the ML: Knot() Khipu. Together, they reimagine the Andean khipu as instruments of sound, storytelling, and cultural resilience.

This installation is part of Art|Sci’s PST exhibition Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption. Additional installations related to the exhibition can be found at Art|Sci’s exhibition space in the CSNI building. Visit Art|Sci’s exhibition website for more information.

Learn more about Patricia Cadavid