Francisca Rocha Gonçalves (Porto, 1978) is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher working with sound, science and environmental activism. Her work interweaves technology, ecology and art to foster deeper connections between people and nature.

‘Interferences in the Tagus’ (2024-25) is an immersive installation designed for CAM’s Sound Room. Developed during a research residency exploring the ecosystem of the Tagus River, it features hydrophone recordings collected by the artist in collaboration with scientists from the ‘Fish Bioacoustics Lab’, on several expeditions to ‘deep listen’ to underwater life. The work weaves a complex soundscape of biological, geological and anthropogenic frequencies. The natural rhythms of aquatic ecosystems are revealed alongside the disruptive effects of human activity.

The installation is enhanced by low-frequency sounds that travel longer distances and are heard and felt by our bodies, making us aware of the acoustic environment of the Tagus. These sounds include waves, sliding pebbles, shifting sand, the clicking of snapping shrimps, and vocal fish. We are also exposed to the interactions between breeding males calling from their nests – such as the Lusitanian toadfish – and the chorusing behaviour of species, such as the native meagre and the invasive weakfish. In contrast to these natural sounds, there are moments of intense noise pollution, such as the shrill sounds and vibrations of ship traffic passing through, echoing for miles beneath the surface.

The artist draws attention to the aquatic species that rely on sound to communicate, hunt, and navigate, while exposing the disruptive impact of human-made noise on marine life. If underwater noise levels can serve as an indicator of ecosystem health, why is sound pollution so often overlooked in environmental and sustainability debates?

Please be aware that there are loud noises associated with this installation.