Vienna Fair 2011

VIENNAFAIR, Messe Vienna, Hall A, Entrance A, Messeplatz, 1020 Vienna

 

Europe’s only international trade fair for contemporary art focusing on Central and Eastern Europe took place for the 7th time in 2011. This year the Art & Science department was representing the University of Applied Arts at the Vienna Fair.

 

Abstract ACOUSTIC CLOUD REMIX

Juliana Herrero

 

“The visual imaginary space in which an exploded view is made possible is infinitely distant from the way any VW Beetle inhabits the world or, rather, the cosmos. In other words, whereas res extensa is a way to draw technical parts side by side, those parts themselves do not assemble or gather or survive as if they were “in” res extensa or “made of ” matter.” 1

 

The space is a cloud. This spatial installation is approaching nature and its enclosure as an artefact to be explored. Playing with the idea of reality and illusion, the acoustic cloud, unfolds into an endless sound scape, turned upside down, mirroring and echoing mixed realities.

 

The geometry of the cloud can be read as a structure of chaos, in which the minimal unit is constituted by an equilateral triangle and its multiple subdivisions, considered the basic geometrical figure by the ancient Greek mathematicians. This flexible and articulated structure, absorbs sound. Within the sound waves and the spatial configuration a physical system at the borderings of control and non control is created, allowing variations of sequential folds and densities. It unfolds to create a dynamic spatial expression, enclosing space within the space and dealing with the “inside” and “outside” paradox that goes beyond its limits defined by geometry and the "elastic" boundaries.

 

Due to the technological material of the inner surface and the expansions/compressions intervals made possible by its articulation, the acoustic performance of the “clouded” area is improved. At the same time the surface is being intervened with sound, bringing some elements of the acoustic perception from the studio to the fair. The sound track consists of a composite mixture of recordings of the street combined with other natural and artificial sounds corresponding and not with the reality of the studio and re-enacting it.

 

The conceptual approach of this project has a physical and mathematical background influenced by the mathematicians Günter Wallner and Franz Gruber, who developed a system based on a forced-directed algorithm that allows to interactively design and subdivide flexible triangular surfaces, allowing to simulate systems “reacting” to different forces, like a spring. The design methods and tools that are part of the framework of the project consider the use and misuse of techniques, bringing new “constructions”, from theory to fiction-reality into the world.

 

“Acoustic Cloud Remix” comes into reality as figments of the imagination in its process of becoming, whispering some-thing or no-thing, leaving space to different readings. This work belongs to a series of “Open Objects” which have the potential characteristics of articulated spatial interfaces that are able to perform changes. It finds its place in between the shifting territories of arts, architecture, design and bordering disciplines, becoming an endless sound scape turned upside down, mirroring and echoing, mixing realities, folding and unfolding once again, constructing reality and intervening in space and time as a dynamic living organism adaptive to processes.

 

1 Bruno Latour, "Can We Get Our Materialism Back, Please?” in: Isis 98, 2007, p.140, online source.

 

Report of the cloudy days:
Being pulled from all sides... Falling into the idea of limits: infinite, enclosure and its paradox. In the trajectory of time there is a  tensional moment in which the inflection point occurs... 'Archistrating' chaos is performing change within processes, which are influenced by attracting and reactive forces. It is connected to our studio in what it relates to space and time, the multiple trajectories, and the components of the atmosphere, like the rumour of the street, artificial and natural sounds, elements of such local and foreign language in a sound scape, deconstructed.

JH

 

Credits:

 

Interactive Modeling and Subdivision of flexible Equilateral Triangular Mechanisms

Günter Wallner, Franz Gruber

 

Comissioned by the University of Applied Arts Vienna

 

Thanks to

 

Anja Seipenbusch and Jasmin Vogl (Public relations and events management, University of Applied Arts Vienna), Peter Strasse (Architecture Institute, University of Applied Arts, Vienna), Christine Baernthaler (OFROOM), Stephan Staudigl and August Korischum.