Arachnid - Tick sensing was inspired by the uncanny sonic textures developed by Antye Greie (AGF) who edited and mastered the TICK TALKs podcasts, it was inspired by her sound work I vs us, Kyla Schuller’s essay ‘The Microbial Self: Sensation and Sympoiesis', and other readings.

This work was made as part of TICK ACTs, SOLU, Helsinki June 2021 . TICK ACTs presented contemplations and ideas from a collaboration between artists Laura Beloff and Kira O’Reilly on ticks, tick-borne pathogens and their environments.  The series of four podcasts, TICK TALKs are available to listen to via the Bioart Society’s Soundcloud page.

Using a specially composed text and sound, alienlike sensational subjectivities of human/tick transspecies encounters are explored, as inseparable from their environment-ing worlds and the ticks microbial cargos. Cross-kingdom relations are conducted via tick sensing of molecular, chemical phrases by which we betray our presence, through secreted volatile signatures.

Text written and read by Kira O'Reilly 
Sound and compositional elements by Antye Greie (AGF)

Best listened to with headphones

TICK ACTs and TICK TALKs are part of Biofriction, a European collaboration project committed to supporting bioart and biohacking practices. Biofriction project is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Enormous thanks to all at SOLU and AGF