Rumbling Within
Felipe de Ávila Franco

In contrast, Rumbling Within by Felipe de Ávila Franco invites the audience to scrutinise the surfaces of drilling apparatus. Artificial shapes with sharp edges – 3D scans of drill-bit pieces – present notions of repulsion and harm alongside more organic features that evoke an idea of smoothness and even sensuality. Moving slowly and immersed in the void, these visuals are accompanied by an ominous low-frequency soundscape drawn from real seismic-monitoring recordings of offshore drilling, allowing viewers to feel the vibrations produced by these operations.

By focusing on the surfaces of extractive technologies, Rumbling Within encourages contemplation of the intrinsic connections between human development, resource exploitation, and ecological impact. Its close, deliberate gaze exposes the hidden processes shaping our present.