Cloud Above, Cloud Below
The Observatory Project w/ Fernando Cremades
Audio Founation
7-30 August 2025
Public Observation at 2pm, 16th August 2025

For Cloud Above, Cloud Below, The Observatory Project and Fernando Cremades have observed two clouds inside glass chambers at the antipodes of the Earth: drawing a line between Tāmaki Makaurau in Aotearoa and Madrid in Spain. In order to observe the trace of a radioactive particle moving through our immediate environment, we had our head in the clouds, under a blanket. Our eyes were each fixed on the local atmosphere inside a fish tank as the cloud started to form. Observations began, and we noted when we thought we saw something. The conditions had to be right: calm (no wind), gentle precipitation, and supersaturation. In a cloud of isopropyl alcohol, temporary trails reminiscent of those left in the sky by jets appeared as radioactive particles zipped through the chamber and our bodies. Identifying different shapes as they materialised in the vapour, we called out to each other cloud above, cloud below.

CLOUD (Cumulous Local Observations Under Duration)
Simultaneous cloud chamber observations in Madrid and Tāmaki Makaurau. Single channel video projection, 8 channel sound. 51 minutes 38 seconds and 3 hours 26 minutes 32 seconds.

Not-seeing and not-knowing
Cloud chamber observations made on the roofs of Fonte, Madrid and Auckland Museum, Tāmaki Makaurau. Single channel video projection, projection screen, stereo sound. 31 minutes 54 seconds.

Chamber A
Fish tank, painted aluminium plate, gloves, dry ice container (polystyrene), velvet, felt, neodymium magnets, clipboard observations, orange power cable, folding table, step stool, custom button, Arduino mega 2560, Geiger-Müller counter, modified Maglite mini torch, relay (solid state), code, retort stand, jump wires, zip ties.

Chamber S
Fish tank, painted aluminium plate, gloves, dry ice container (polystyrene), velvet, felt, neodymium magnets, plastic container (base), coffee table, stool, custom button, Arduino mega 2560, Geiger-Müller counter, LED torch, jump wires.

Special thanks to Patricia Nieto, Fonte Madrid, and Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira.

Thanks to Creative New Zealand for funding this project.