Exhibition
January 18, 2014
February 23, 2014

Empty Vessels

by
Poster design: Blank Blank

Empty Vessels belongs to a series of works in which Alvin Lucier studies the resonance characteristics of the smallest interior spaces. He has placed eight glass water containers and vases on pedestals along one of the space’s walls at Lydgalleriet.

Microphones are placed in the openings of the empty vessels, and each is rooted through limiters to speakers. The eight loudspeakers are positioned exactly opposite, along the facing wall.

The amplifier in each microphone-loudspeaker system is selected in such a way that each strand of feedback is marked by the resonant characteristics of the respective vessel. This creates a controlled feedback field of resonant tones and their interferences in the gallery space. When entering the field, the visitor disrupts the delicate balance of the system, creating new feedbacks with unexpected frequencies. Even a small head movement is enough to hear a multifaceted, fluctuating spectrum of pitches.

Curated by Carsten Seiffarth and realised by Nicolas Collins, in collaboration with Atelier Nord.