Shaping Sound

The sound artwork/performance Untitled II, solo for sound sculptural instrument by composer Marianthi Papalexandri-Alexandri is taken as a point of departure to address, through a combination of lecture, performance and open discussion, how materials become part of and shape artistic practices, and how this makes us rethink the very notion of the musical instrument.

In this workshop, participants are invited to experience a unique sound sculptural instrument through listening to and discussing its performance as well as the artistic process that determines its making. The instrument works through the principle of friction, using tubes, nylon lines, natural rubber, rosin and and motors.

Questions we will discuss are: What are the material, musical and performative aspects that shape a musical instrument? How are our listening conventions challenged when the traditional and conventionalized properties of musical instruments are manipulated through artistic practice? How does a sound artwork/performance make us rethink notions of listening, materials, the body, and space?

In addition to listening to the performance of Untitled II and discussing the cultural, artistic and material specificities of its making, participants are encouraged to actively explore a collection of special materials, objects, prototypes and instruments in order to investigate the sound sculptural instrument's basic principle of friction and its specific materials and mechanics.

The collection of materials and Untitled II (this time as a sound installation) will remain on display until December 20th.

This workshop is organised by composer and sound artist Marianthi Papalexandri-Alexandri and sound studies/cultural studies scholar Carla J. Maier.

Im Rahmen der Ausstellung „+ultra. gestaltung schafft wissen“