TWENTY PERSPECTIVES ON A MOUNTAIN
Mixed-media installation. 2020-ongoing
Mixed-media installation. 2020-ongoing
Twenty Perspectives on a Mountain consists of twenty different audiovisual pieces that highlight different biological, ecological, cultural or spiritual aspects of a mountain. Together these pieces form a three dimensional representation of the concept of Mountain. The first four pieces have been created during the AIAV Trans_2019-2020 residency in Akiyoshidai, Japan, and feature the aspects of Demarcation, Destruction, Decay and Growth.
Twenty Perspectives on a Mountain conveys not only the perspective of "man" on nature, but also the perspective of the mountain on the underland. A perspective from which every element is part of a greater whole. A perspective that during the anthropocene can help us to negotiate a new relationship with the nature now that it is no longer the stage upon which our daily lives unfold, but a fellow actor that demands more and more attention.
Twenty Perspectives on a Mountain conveys not only the perspective of "man" on nature, but also the perspective of the mountain on the underland. A perspective from which every element is part of a greater whole. A perspective that during the anthropocene can help us to negotiate a new relationship with the nature now that it is no longer the stage upon which our daily lives unfold, but a fellow actor that demands more and more attention.
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Amo et Odi
In Amo et Odi, two pieces of kasumi marble move against one another at regular intervals. This movement causes the stones to decay over time before they fade away completely. This destruction tells the history of the area by revealing the layers of compressed sediment in the limestone. This history dates back to 350 million years when the sediment was still a coral reef at the bottom of the Southern Japanese sea. The rhythmical motion produces a breath-like sound, imbuing the stones with life. In time, with the thinning of the stones, the sound will change as well. |
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Bamboo Phase
In Bamboo Phase five “shishi odoshi”, or “deer scarer”, move in different intervals. Traditionally, these water-operated instruments were used by farmers to scare away pests like deer and birds from their rice fields, using sound to create an invisible barrier between man and nature. In this installation, the shishi odoshi are motorized and set to different speeds which create alternating rhythmical patterns throughout the day. Once in a while two of them will converge in a rhythmical interplay, after which their duet will slowly become chaotic again. Every 24 hours, all five shishi odoshi beat in unison, signifying that despite the synthetic character of these devices, they still abide by the circadian rhythm |
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Three Miniatures From Stone
Three Miniatures From Stone is an auditive triptych created using only sounds produced by the slabs of kasumi marble native to the Yamaguchi Prefecture, and field recordings captured at different iconic locations around AIAV. As the stones are created by the compressing of minerals over millions of years it was necessary to unravel the sounds in order to hear their voice. By time-stretching and slowing down the fragments I listened to the stone using its concept of time. A rich and vibrant sound emerged that was more musical than expected. |
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Three Miniatures From Decay
These three pictures are closeups of crystalline formations created at the outside podium of AIAV. Acid rain in combination with the natural decay that occurs over time affected the limestone structure and created these miniature landscapes. By placeing them on the ground the visitor is granted the perspective of giants, the perspective of a mountain.
These three pictures are closeups of crystalline formations created at the outside podium of AIAV. Acid rain in combination with the natural decay that occurs over time affected the limestone structure and created these miniature landscapes. By placeing them on the ground the visitor is granted the perspective of giants, the perspective of a mountain.
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