Wherever we are, what we hear is mostly noise. When we ignore it, it disturbs us. When we listen to it, we find it fascinating… We want to capture and control these sounds, to use them not as sound effects but as musical instruments.
(Cage, 1968)

Untitled (2014) is a sound sculpture comprising of a triptych of plates on stands, and hidden speakers concealed inside the plates, demonstrating a playful encounter between sound and object. The plates are juxtaposed with sounds of a dripping tap clanging against a plate in a kitchen sink. The sound adds curiosity to an otherwise formal work referencing the aesthetic of the Duchampian assisted readymade. The sonic effect is one of calm reflection, while the balancing plates offer a sense of instability and precariousness.

The sound of a tap left to drip is usually a source of annoyance; in some cultures it has even been used as a torture device. By paying attention to the particular ringing sound however, it became a source of intrigue. The recordings use altered pitches, while the speeds are reduced individually, giving each drip an individualised tempo. This allows for an organic arrangement of sounds to come in and out of sync, inspired by the Minimalist music of Steve Reich. The slowing down of the drips additionally creates a more meditative sound, as opposed to the urgent, radar-like sound originally recorded. The combined visual, aural and spatial arrangement presents a communicative relationship, hinting at visual connections to pylons or transmitters, and sonic references to sonar, while more subtly taking place is the visualisation of sound waves within the staggered arrangements of plates.

Another important feature added is silence itself. This aspect became apparent through researching the work of German sound artist Rolf Julius, who presents sounds characterised by soft murmurs or hums, in objects such as bowls or on top of stones. For Julius, the pauses between sounds are essential because they enable the viewer to look at the visual aspect of the work, in-between listening.

https://soundcloud.com/estelle-woolley/untitled-2