The installation of loudspeakers in public spaces, coupled with the addition of supplementary tonal layers, has become an increasingly prevalent method of spatial manipulation. It's evident that in nearly every boutique and supermarket, an overly simplistic deployment of loudspeaker sound contributes to the ambience and mood of the space. However, the real-time effect is often one of homogenisation, where the distinctiveness of the place is diluted, and its atmosphere becomes generic. "Oblivious to Gravity" seeks to counter this trend by heightening our awareness of the elemental, immersive, and acoustically unique properties of the spaces we inhabit, encounter, and perhaps overlook. Instead of whitewashing or smearing the atmosphere, the project aims to prompt a deeper appreciation for the inherent character and resonance of our environments.
{kA}: Oblivious to Gravity vol.06, building-sound composition, Severinstrasse 214-218, 2015
For this particular building, I crafted spatial sound compositions spanning across four floors, utilising a combination of concealed and visible loudspeakers. By intertwining sound-space transitions, moments of silence, and the incorporation of visual elements into acoustic abstractions such as repurposing dormant water pipes to emit white noise, effectively revitalizing them acoustically—I aimed to evoke a continuous stream of inquiry. The placement of chairs within the corridor system further amplifies this sense of curiosity, prompting questions like: Is the loudspeaker activated? Am I occupying this space in vain? Why am I hearing sounds from adjacent rooms but nothing here? Yet, just as one becomes immersed in this carefully curated auditory world, the presence of someone walking down the corridor disrupts the meticulously constructed atmosphere leading to a gradual dissolution of the sonic environment.
Spatialisation instrument (issit) & composition: Gerriet Krishna Sharma Photos and documentation: Nico Bergmann Authors of publication: Dr. Saskia Reiter & Gerriet Krishna Sharma
A–2015
B–2015
C–2015
D–2015