Transects
2014, Interactive sound installation at ISEA 2014, International Symposium on Electronic Arts, “Electric Tradition” exhibition, in the historic neighbouhood Al Fahidi of Dubaï,
Zayed University
Curator : Joshua Watts
Octobre 30th to Novembre 9, 2014
Sound Transect from James Partaik on Vimeo.
Moving around in a public space means travelling along the grid network of streets and boulevards where everything we come across seems to exist for the purpose of being visualized. This urban grid is superimposed on a network of data that, although immaterial, is based on the same nodal logic. Both are made up of intersecting points and articulations of lines that enable functional movement. The act of travelling outside the physical grid of the urban fabric, of choosing to proceed along the parallel paths of the datasphere aims at an exploration that is contrary to normal use, as it involves plotting transverse lines through the public space surrounding the exhibition space.
TRANSECTS is an interactive sound installation. Samples of sound are captured in 3D from the buildings and the urban space surrounding the gallery. This series of ambisonic recordings, made in concentric circles around the exhibition space, are like 'core samples' from drilling into the earth. The samples present the user of the interactive installation with a series of related soundscapes from the area surrounding the exhibition space. A chair, equipped with an electronic compass, is the center point of the installation. It is equipped with an audio fader, a volume control, but here, volume refers to space, not amplitude. This control enables the user to move through the 'sound tunnels.' These tunnels carry the user through obstacles from space to space, from encounter to encounter. The user is like a sound wave, travelling through space, time and matter, confounding normal movement and penetrating both private and collective spaces. TRANSECTS crafts a series of acoustic ambiances that incrementally create a whole new way of experiencing the city. Amidst the new urban landscape thus created, the user develops a new sensory rapport with its immediate environment.
Technical Requirements
The sound installation is composed of a sound room equipped with 3 dimensional multi-nodal ambisonic sound system (1st order, 5 speakers). A swivelling chair placed at the sweetspot of the system is an electronic compass equipped with a slider enabling the user to circulate virtually through the surrounding spaces to the installation.
Installation Needs for ambisonic sound room version (3D sound)
• Space Required (minimum): 8' x 8' x 8' or 2.5m x 2.5m x 2.5m soundproofed box with imbedded speakers (stealth acoustic)
• Power required: 1 x 15A 120V circuit; Type B outlets (flat blades with round grounding pin).
Technique provided by the artist:
• 1 sound device, (chair with embedded sensors, micro-controller and Wifi)
• 1 computer (Mac) with custom software
• 1 audio interface
Technique provided by venue :
• 5 channel sound system, each channel needs to be independantly controlled (high quality, good wattage) and speaker cabling (if 5 channels are not available, a 4 system can be accommodated by the artist, but limits the sound to 2D)
• 1 video projector
• 1 VGA cable or HDMI (computer to projector)
Installation Needs for an open space version (2D sound)
• Space Required (minimum): 8' x 8' or 2.5m x 2.5m rooftop space or a room with a panoramic view or any space that gives a view of the city
• Power required: 1 x 15A 120V circuit; Type B outlets (flat blades with round grounding pin or adapters).
Technique provided by the artist:
• 1 sound device, (chair with embedded sensors, Wiring micro-controller and Wifi)
• 1 computer (Mac) with custom software
• 1 audio interface
Technique provided by venue :
• 4.1 channel sound system, each channel needs to be independantly controlled (high quality, high wattage) and speaker cabling
• 1 video projector/or display
• 1 VGA cable or HDMI (computer to display or projector)