The Space of Preparation

Swiss artist Zimoun, previously covered here for his work with the acoustics of woodworms, has been producing a long series of installations involving immersive cardboard structures—both surfaces and spaces—sonically activated by embedded motors. The rain-like plinks and plonks that greet you as you encounter these installations isn't beautified or specially tuned; in any other context, it would simply appear to be industrial noise.

Watch this recently updated compilation video to hear them at work:



Here are installation shots from three of Zimoun's recent works—all of which use "prepared" motors, in the artist's description, like the prepared pianos of composer John Cage, a technique here applied to micromachinery. In a similar vein, it would be interesting to see work produced using "prepared" elevators, "prepared" doorways, or "prepared" architecture at all and any scales. Prepared bridges over rivers, prepared docks on the sea.

1) 200 prepared dc-motors, 2000 cardboard elements (2011)
[Images: From 200 prepared dc-motors (2011)].

2) 121 prepared dc-motors (2011)
[Images: From 121 prepared dc-motors (2011)].

3) 138 prepared dc-motors, cotton balls, cardboard boxes (2011)
[Images: From 138 prepared dc-motors, cotton balls, cardboard boxes (2011)].

See more at Zimoun's website.

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Blogger [ iD: TdX ] said...

amazing!!!

June 06, 2011 4:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

absolutely fantastic work on many levels !!!
thanks for this great post !!!

June 28, 2011 6:52 AM  
Anonymous tom said...

woooooow !!!

June 28, 2011 6:53 AM  
Blogger timquinn said...

In Cremaster 3 (I think) our 'hero' prepares the elevators of the chrysler building to act a a giant bagpipe.

Despite himself, Barney is at least 4 kinds of genius. I recommend that particular film without hesitation.

July 03, 2011 5:58 PM  
Blogger skybirdblank said...

geoff, have you seen this article yet? it's about an alternative way to generate electricity from wind. the forest of these windstalks reminded me of the sound sculptures!

http://news.discovery.com/tech/wind-power-without-the-blades.html

July 13, 2011 10:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

fukinfantastic

April 22, 2013 11:31 AM  

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