Magnetic Resonance is inspired by how migrating birds sense the Earth’s geomagnetic field to navigate; a process thought to involve quantum entanglement within light-sensitive proteins in their eyes. An array of illuminated pendulums are set in motion by the push and pull of invisible magnetic forces, moving with a high degree of indeterminacy. Each pendulum acts as a light-sensitive instrument, casting sound in the direction of its swing to create an immersive, constantly shifting soundworld based on radio waves, static electricity and signals from the Earth’s magnetosphere.

Commissioned by Instrument Inventors, KONTEJNER and Overtoon. Co-produced as part of New Perspectives for Action, a project by Re-Imagine Europe, co-funded by the European Union. Software by Matthew Olden, scientific consultants: Alice Wong, Sam England and Daniel Robert.

Productions by Kathy Hinde

• Magnetic Resonance 2026