overview
Circulate
Sculptor and sound artist Takasumi Abe uses sounds that occur in both nature and inside the human body to comment on the inherent link between inner and outer worlds -- circulation. Several years ago, he was intrigued with the seemingly inaudible sound of clouds, and that prompted him to construct a large receiver and transmitter from welded steel rods and tissue. The ambient document that was recorded has prompted him to continue this investigation.
For his installation at Davidson College, Abe has created a walk-in sphere that will contain the sounds of clouds recorded high above Lake Norman and an animation projection of a thousand clouds drawn by the artist. The artist rigged a special low-tech solution to record the sounds of clouds, pointing out that any other man-made device besides balloons make too much noise on their own to be able to get an accurate recording. Using helium, kite string, an iPod with a microphone, and a borrowed boat, the artist and a small crew launched twelve garbage bags over 1000 feet into a cloud-dotted sky. The resulting recording provides an authentic experience of what might be called “cloud music.” Since clouds hover above the earth, they are a visible representation of the concept of circulation. They contain moisture that has evaporated from one location, only to be deposited upon another, starting the cycle again.
Takasume Abe has been fascinated by the intractable questions of nature for years. Of particular interest to him is the concept of mass extinction of a species. He wonders what it is that allows some species to flourish, others to maintain their population, while still others to go extinct. It is the hidden mechanisms of nature that engage Abe’s restless mind. Yet all of these interests center on the idea of circulation. He has created installations where gallery viewers can listen to the sounds of their own hearts and lungs (through a stethoscope), and have it amplified throughout a gallery space. Thus, the inside of the human body becomes a conduit for expressing his concerns on a global scale.
According to the artist, there is a special temple in Kyoto where the sound of clapping hands sounds like thunder. This phenomenon is, no doubt, due to the special acoustic environment created by the architectural properties of the temple. Abe has stated that he wishes his sphere to have some of those same “magical” qualities. However, he is unsure if his experiment will be successful. He only knows that he has trust in the process of his art, and that he can apply his attention and action on his abundant fascinations.
images
