DESIGN NAME: Sound Circles Taiwan
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Sonic Textile Installation
INSPIRATION: In 2017 the constitutional court in Taiwan ruled that the marriage laws in Taiwan were unconstitutional and that same-sex couples should have the right to marry. However, facing a lot of resistance from conservative religious groups, the Taiwanese government allowed for a set of referendums in 2018, to let citizens decide how best to address the issue. This inspired us to create a work that can create conversation and place to listen to disparate voices that come together to form a democratic society.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: These flat hand-woven speakers are made only with yarns and copper wire. With breaking the conventional form of a speaker, it rethinks the interaction of sound installation. These working hand-woven textile speakers preserve and record a pivotal moment in Taiwan and Asia's queer history in which Taiwan could become the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Interviews with Taiwanese individuals and ambient recordings from Taiwan are audible from each circular weaves. The work explores the relationship of personal politics with that of national politics within the context of LGBTQ rights.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: This sound installation is to be experienced one to one relationship. Because of it's sensitive and personal contents, the audiences need to approach up to 20cm distance to hear a clear sound. One speaker holds interviews with Taiwanese and other holds the ambiant sound specifically to Taiwan. Both sounds intermingle recreating the sound from people and place of Taiwan as if the audience is in Taiwan.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: Research on material and method started in March 2018 till June 2018 in New York. The project fabrication started in October 2018 in Taipei, Taiwan and finished in December 2018, and was exhibited in Taipei Artist Residency in December 2018.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Sound Circles Taiwan was made to rethink the interaction of sound installation. To give tangible and personality to the content we created a textile speaker that works intimately in close distance. As the content of the project is personal and sensitive the goal was to create one to one tangible experience for the audiences. It is made of wool, copper wire, magnets, and amplifier.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: 1220 mm x 110 mm X 1220 mm
TAGS: Innovative Textiles, Sound Art, Sound installation, Soft Sculpture, Sculpture, Media Art
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The goal of this research is to find the most suitable form and interaction for our sound installation. During the conceptual research, we decided to base our study in the form of voice recordings. To portray voices from various backgrounds of individuals we decided to use the circular form to represent a whole society coming together and making democratic decisions. The result was satisfying evoking curiosity towards visitors in the gallery and was able to engage the difficult subject of conflict in a calm and subtle manner.
CHALLENGE: Most challenging moment of creating this project was the technical aspect. Finding the most pleasing and effective sound quality requires multiple tests with the various gauge of copper wire, the length it needs and tension between the yarns.
ADDED DATE: 2019-02-27 13:14:15
TEAM MEMBERS (2) : Artist Hyojin Yoo and Artist Nupur Mathur
IMAGE CREDITS: Image #1-5: Photographer Hyojin Yoo, Sound Circles Taiwan, 2019
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