Bouwnummer 1077

Performance / Sound installation

Bouwnummer 1077 is a ‘heavy physical sound performance’ by Bart Visser, Remco de Jong and Arnold Hoogerwerf. This project is both a performance and a sound installation. The installation scans the surrounding space of the installation with microphones and speakers, which are built into hanging cubes. It can be played like an instrument, by grasping, swinging and rotating the cubes. By playing sounds into the room and subsequently recording and replaying the same sound, an acoustic resonance scan is being made of the space and the room will reveal, bit by bit, its ‘true acoustical identity’.

 

A computer program is developed to give the possibility for live coupling of speakers and microphones in various ‘loops’. By varying these loops with this program, the space and installation becomes a dynamic electro-acoustic organism.

 

This project is inspired by a composition of American composer Alvin Lucier (1931): ‘I Am Sitting in a Room’. Originally from 1970 (and performed and recorded on various other ocassions afterwards), this piece consists of thirty-two generations of Alvin Lucier’s speech. The piece begins with “I am sitting in a room, different from the one you are in now. I am recording the sound of my speaking voice…” etc. etc., and is then repeated again and again until only the resonant frequencies of the room remain. (More info on this piece and Alvin Lucier can be found here and here)

Originally commissioned by Stichting Werkspoor and Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, this project was part of a collective research project in which artists, archeologists, writers, local residents and city officials made a plan for  the urban development of the Oostenburger Eiland area in Amsterdam. Since then, an adapted version of this project is being performed on various international media art festivals.

Year

2001–2003

Kind

Performance / Sound installation

In cooperation with

Bart Visser

 

Remco de Jong

Location

september 2001, Manifestatie Werkspoor 2001, Oostenburger Eiland, Amsterdam, NL

 

november 2001, Dialog Festival, Der Alte Kaserne, Winterthur, CH

 

january 2003, Transmediale Festival (Opening Act), Maria am Ufer, Berlin, GER

 

february 2003, New Concepts in Live Electronic Music, Korzo Theatre, The Hague, NL

Credits

Bouwnummer 1077 was made possible by funds from Stichting Werkspoor and Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst

Performance during New Concepts in Live Electronic Music, Korzo Theatre, The Hague