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Sound art based on a real-time water system. The installation consists of modules with aquariums connected by a water circuit, through which water flows via hoses driven by electromechanical devices. The sound here is not a composition played from an external source, but a phenomenon that arises directly from the flow, pressure changes, vibrations, and operation of the devices.

The installation creates a complex soundscape where the natural murmur of water meets the mechanical rhythm of pumps and motors. This system, though precisely constructed, remains susceptible to minor disturbances: micro-leaks, voltage fluctuations, and momentary variations in component operation. As a result, it balances between control and unpredictability, technical order and the organic behavior of matter.

The system reveals itself as a process – not a closed form, but a dynamic system in which rhythm, sound, and movement are traces of duration. From a hydrological perspective, the installation becomes a commentary on contemporary notions of environmental stability: it shows that even a seemingly closed and controlled cycle depends on continuous operation and remains vulnerable to disruptions. In this way, the work intertwines reflections on sound and time with the tension between nature and technology, as well as with the anxiety inherent in contemporary human relations with the systems that sustain the environment.

Jakub Stelmach – a graduate of the Graphic Arts program at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice. His practice focuses on new media art, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between sound and image. In his artistic work, he treats these as experimental models of reality – systems that allow for the observation of relationships between phenomena. In parallel, his professional work includes, among other things, visual and lighting design for concerts. In his practice, he explores technological tools for media synthesis and reflects on the limitations of contemporary methods of understanding and describing reality.

Selection committee members: Bogdan Topor, Łukasz Trzciński, Matylda Badera, Dominika Kluszczyk, Zuzanna Jaworska