pond installation by ronald van der meijs uses weather conditions to generate sound

settling amid the japanese garden of amstelpark in amsterdam, ronald van der meijs introduces ‘odoshi cloud sequence’, a sound-generating installation placed within a pond. the project explores new possibilities to create audio compositions, controlled by slow, unpredictable, and unexpected natural elements.

vibraphone key with mallet poured in liquid rubber
all images by ronald van der meijs

the diversity of natural sounds gives the artwork by ronald van der meijs an almost meditative character. meanwhile, the dependence on incalculable natural factors evokes tension. the installation engages, as a natural sequencer, in a dialogue with the water, sun, wind, and clouds. it is a symbiosis between nature and culture: situated within the japanese garden, it refers to its surroundings by using the principle of the japanese bamboo water tumbler.

eight independent units cause an ongoing sound composition dependent on the weather conditions

the eight installation units fill up slowly, and then the pipes tumble and create a water splash. this movement strikes a vibraphone key whose pure tone slowly dies out. typically, the vibraphone effect is achieved by a system of wind turbines and resonance tubes. in this specific case, each water pump is connected to its own solar panel, making every unit have a slow, independent rhythm. these rhythms are individually influenced by the wind and clouds that block the sun and thus influence the total composition and intensity.

after pouring all the water, the tubes fall back in place and the mallet hits the key

the curved composition of the installation units follows the curve of the sun – in this way every unit has a different energy level each time of the day

behind the sound installation lies the japanese garden of the amstelpark

after the aluminum pipe empties its content, it will hit the key, creating a sound

each pump supplies water in a very slow way into the diagonal aluminum tube

each unit is influenced individually by the wind and the sun

under each vibraphone key, there is a vertical hanging pipe, in which a valve spins round generating an interesting audio effect

the valve in each pipe is connected to a wind turbine – the wind conditions determine the intensity of the sound effect

project info:

name: odoshi cloud sequence
artist: ronald van der meijs
size: 12 x 2 x 1 m (lxwxh)
materials: cast iron, aluminum, brass, rubber, solar panels, water pumps
in cooperation with: zone2source
supported by: mondriaan fonds, AFK amsterdam, stichting stokroos 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom