Cicadas are the loudest insects in the world. In New Zealand, the most common species is the chorus cicada (Amphipsalta zelandica), renowned for its rhythmic and persistent sound that heralds the end of summer. Known in Māori as kihikihi wawā, kihikihi is an onomatopoeic term mimicking the cicada's sound, while wawā means 'to make a loud indistinct noise, roar, rumble' [1].
The Kihikihi project draws inspiration from the chorus cicada’s unique appearance, sound, and behavior. However, in many ways, it addresses the interrelationship of insects, plants, and humans in general - the shared ecosystem we all need for survival. Although cicadas are not pollinators like bees, they play an important role in the food chain, and they also rely on plants [2]. During their nymph stage cicadas live underground and feed on sap from tree roots. After emerging, they mate and lay eggs in tree bark, completing a life cycle tied closely to the trees they depend on.
In the Kihikihi installation, the audience can activate ‘electronic insects’ by placing them on ‘electronic trees’. The audience is invited to explore the sonic, tactile and visual relationships through play: they can pick up insects, place them on the sculptural plants, explore successful placements, and once contact is made, the insect starts glowing and chirping. Each insect has a unique rhythm. The insects form an insect orchestra, their voices blending and interweaving into a polyrhythmic sound cloud.
The trees express themselves sonically as well, and contact with insects influences their sound in a subtle way. Emitting a gentle wind-like sound, the tree sculptures provide an airy layer to the beats of the insects. When an insect connects with a tree, the tree’s sound slightly softens, signifying the nuanced impact of interspecies connections.
While the interaction is playful, this participatory installation provokes contemplation on the deeper interwovenness of our natural environment and the importance of insects to human survival. Robot insects are already being developed to replace natural pollinators in the food industry [3]. If the world-wide insect decline continues at its rapid rate, will artificial insects be our only option? Beyond their functional contributions to the ecosystem, what are we losing culturally and emotionally? Who will sing for us in summer?
The concept of sonic emergence plays a central role in the Kihikihi installation [4]. As the audience activates the electronic insects by placing them on trees, individual sounds begin to combine, forming an intricate, evolving soundscape. The distinct rhythms of individual insects layer together into a dynamic soundscape, illustrating emergence—the interaction of simple elements creating complex patterns. Complex systems, both natural and technological, derive their character from the relationships between individual elements.The audience interactions determine not just the placement of sounds, but the evolution of the entire sound environment.
The trees contribute a spacious, wind-like ambient sound that complements the polyrhythmic beats of the insects. When an insect connects to a tree, the tree subtly lowers its volume, allowing the insects' rhythms to take precedence. Additionally, the insects are responsive to audience movement: when they sense motion nearby, they temporarily fall silent. As participants navigate the space, the insects respond individually, with some behaving more timidly than others.
The installation features 29 electronic insects, collectively known as Brood 0, and five trees with 29 connection points. The choice of 29 reflects the importance of prime numbers to cicadas. Many species, such as those in the Magicicada genus, have prime-numbered life cycles, like 13 or 17 years. This strategy is believed to protect cicadas from predators, as the irregularity of their emergence makes it difficult for predators to adapt. This element of surprise helps cicada broods flourish , hence the decision to use prime numbers where possible in the project.
1 Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary, s.v. "kihikihi," accessed October 25, 2024, https://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/9187.
2 “What Is the Purpose of Cicadas?” Cicada Mania, accessed October 25, 2024, https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/what-is-the-purpose-of-cicadas/.
3 Natasha Johnson, “Pollination Technology, AI, and Robots: How New Tech Is Addressing Insect Extinction,” ABC News, August 31, 2023, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-31/pollination-technology-ai-and-robots-address-insect-extinction/102766166.
4 Pennsylvania State University, "Brian Eno and Generative Music," accessed November 7, 2024, https://sites.psu.edu/ams10541engl229finalproject/generative-music/.