Resonance
2013.
Size: 6 m x 3 m x 4 m
Material/Technique: Speaker, 30 x 40 cm Aluminum plate, Black glass powder, Frequency generator, Video,
Sound-by Edmund Campion,Professor at The University of Berkeley, California, Department of Music,
Description:
I was born with a hearing problem. Background noises are equally loud as direct conversation, making it difficult to concentrate and leading to frustration and stress. This problem generated an interest in exploring sounds and vibrations as visual forms. The project "Wind", "Sound Visions" and "Araneae" are part of this series of pieces completed within a years time.
Every material resonates at specific material inherent frequencies, which depend on size, shape and thickness of each material. Ernst Chladni was the first to visualize such frequencies on a flat surface by sprinkling sand on it and striking it with a violin bow. When the plate starts vibrating at the resonant frequencies, the sand will move into patterns. Today a metal plate and a speaker are producing those visible sound formations. I replaced the sand with glass powder, which vibrates into the patterns and is then fused a kiln into its solid shapes. The metal plate used in this project has approx. 200 resonant frequencies within the audible range. If the metal plate is vibrated at non- resonant frequency, no patterns will form. The project was about to visualize vibrations so that what is audible would also become visible. The cloud formations of the glass patterns represent all possible forms within the audible range.