humming cork and box installation by zimoun

cork and box installation at the ‘volume’ exhibition by zimoun, new york, united statesimage © studio zimoun

featured in their solo exhibition, ‘volume,’ at the bitforms gallery in new york city, swiss artist zimoun assembled an installation buzzing with the sound of 294 individual dc-motors methodically agitating 294 cork balls frantically pounding on a stacked cardboard structure. the 42 cm3 boxes, stacked almost haphazardly as they protrude and recede from their neighbors amplify the sound of the droned rapping with the natural acousticsof the cardboard material, created through simple repetitive mechanical machines.  like analogue rain drops tapping on a hollow paper ground,the layering of frenetic sound waves creates an almost contrastingly neutral and calming murmur which one can begin to pick apart as certainloops will be inevitably picked up by the auditory senses.

the designers explain:

‘pulsing rhythmically, each unit in the system reverberates with its own sense of purpose and timing. temporal microstructures emerge and shift, made visible by collective behavior. with minimalist and low-tech means, zimoun constructs a blank zone of play utilizing repetition and the physical pressure of vibration.’

the contraption in actionvideo © studio zimoun

exterior of the structureimage © studio zimoun

image © studio zimoun

image © studio zimoun

other rumbling sound installations presented in ‘volumes’video © studio zimoun