Caliche Crystals is part of a long-term project called Caliche Winds, which explores the historical trade and windsailing maritime route of sodium nitrate (natural saltpetre), or locally called “caliche”.

In 2014, saltpetre crystals were grown over a period of a week in a saturated solution and then photographed using a digital macro lens.

From 2016 to 2018, Caliche Crystals developed in collaboration with visual artist Kalma and the scientific advise from Lab:Present at the TU – Berlin. This collaboration conceived outputs, where the central concept is the experiencing of saltpetre crystals formations, in dialogue with architectural spaces and historical narratives.

In 2019, a video-animation series of these microscopic captures, were projected for a performance in collaboration with Kalma at the Stavanger Concert Hall, commissioned by Screen City Biennial. For more information about these performance series, please click here.

Currently, these video series are under a creative process towards an installation that will include a multi-channel, spacial sound element.

Caliche Crystals extends a real-time perception of the dynamic and symmetric growth of sodium nitrate crystals. It suggests a reflection about the molecular geometry of this resource, which has been subject to scientific controversy regarding its natural sedimentation in the Atacama Desert: it is not clear if it has been formed by marine dew and oxidation, or as a consequence of the volcanic activity.

Microscope supporter: Bresser