In MAAT’s new exhibition , one hundred birds take center stage in a nonstop concert.
The sound installation “From Here to Ear v.26,” conceived by French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, uses dozens of stringed instruments and amplifiers to transform the movements of 50 male and 50 female Zebra Finches into a live musical composition.
“Guitarist” birds?
The museum space was adapted to accommodate the animals; resting and feeding areas are set up on the floor, while several nests hang from the ceiling.
At the center of this setup are 20 electric guitars, arranged horizontally on metal stands. As the birds fly, rest, and interact with the guitar strings, they produce different musical notes.
These sounds are emitted by amplifiers distributed throughout the room, creating a soundscape that blends with the species’ characteristic chirps.
Your influence on this work
The presence of visitors plays a direct role in the exhibition’s sound outcome. The public is invited to move freely among the instruments, sharing the same physical space as the birds.
The movement of people walking through the space causes the Mandarin Finches to react and fly more frequently among the guitars scattered across the museum floor.
As they fly from one instrument to another in response to human movement, the birds trigger new notes and chords. This mechanism ensures that the music generated is never repeated, resulting in an ever-changing composition, created in real time with the indirect participation of visitors to the space.
The immersive installation blends the observation of animal behavior with acoustic equipment, transforming instinctive actions into an unpredictable soundscape.
Check out the video of our visit to this exhibition at MAAT.
The birds are well cared for
Throughout the duration of the exhibition, the installation’s environment is kept under strict control, ensuring conditions suitable for the birds’ needs.
Every day, a specialized team ensures the birds’ well-being and hygiene, including a balanced diet, regular cleaning of the spaces, and continuous monitoring of each bird’s health.
The entire project is being carried out in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements in force for this type of initiative, scrupulously following the guidelines issued by the competent authorities in the area of animal welfare.
Useful information:
Address: Avenida Brasília (Belém)
Hours: through August 31, 2026
Tickets: starting at 9€
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