Benoît Maubrey Germany
I create "sounding" public sculptures that interact with the public. These are made from re-cycled electronics: people can interact with them via telephones, Bluetooth receivers and input from other electronic devices. The sculptures are created sight-specifically, either in response to a local country or culture, or are integrated into existing structures and architectural concepts.
Since 1983 I have been building SPEAKER SCULPTURES: interactive sound sculptures for public spaces. These sculptures allow the public to express itself spontaneously and/and play music and messages directly through them. The sculptures are made of up to 3000 recycled loudspeakers (all connected) and electronics. The form of the sculpture is site-specific, they adapt to their environment or country by taking on various shapes like an entranceway (GATEWAY, Berlin Festspiele 2014), a TEMPLE (Karlsruhe ZKM Sound Art Exhibition 2012), a GATE (Kirschau, Saxony, Germany 2010) , a Japanese SHRINE (Kobe Biennale, 2015), a WALL (Angers/ France 2011), an IGLOO (1997 Hull Time Based Arts/UK, 2004 Singuhr Gallery/Berlin), an OBELISK (Cairotronica, Cairo, Egypt 2018), or an ARENA (Cafka Biennale, Kitchener Canada, 2018).
Infos on web link: http://www.benoitmaubrey.com/?cat=5 The public, local artists, musicians, choral groups and organizations can participate via a number of ways: -- calling a telephone number and expressing themselves for 3 minutes. -- via Bluetooth and individual Smartphones people can relay songs and messages to the sculpture. -- via direct "line in" people can connect their devices and instruments directly to the sculpture. Additionally the sculpture can be used as PA system for events , DJs, and small concerts.
The new ARENA project (Cafka Biennale, Kitchener Canada, 2018) is conceived in the shape of a small amphitheater so that the sculpture can be presented both as a „Speakers Corner“ -- a low-key "hotspot" for local participation and self-expression ("Audio Graffiti") but also function as a stage for small events and concerts. The sculpture is created from 4 modular elements that are fitted together as a single amphitheater or split up into different elements that function as concert "boxes" with more sound volume. The sculpture itself has only signal cable and therefore is not electrically dangerous. Durability of the structure: some of my sculptures (see the snow-decked TEMPLE photo) are meant to last for years. Note that most re-cycled (used) speakers are very durable objects made of solid wood that have already withstood the tooth of time. Loudspeakers are basically wood and a magnetic cone that are practically impossible to destroy: in the worst case of vandalism or deterioration one basically only needs to replace the speaker. The speakers themselves are mounted onto a solid core support structure made of weather and fire-proofed wood. A supply of extra replacement speakers takes care of the rest.
Details (sound): the volume is controllable via a mixing board, individual amplifiers and receivers.
Projects and exhibitions
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Torii01/01/2017 — 01/11/2018 Karaoke Torii An interactive public sculpture equipped with Bluetooth receivers, microphone, and (lowlevel) white noise. Functions as public karaoke sculpture. |
Kobe Biennale, KAIR Program Kamiyama, Japan, Kamiyama, Japan | Details | |
Temple03/03/2015 — 30/01/2016 Project for the Sound Art exhibition at the ZKM / Karlsruhe. Materials: 3000 recycled loudspeakers and assorted electronic parts, 10 recycled amplifiers, 10 recycled radios/tuners, 1 mixing board. Sound: “white noise” from radio receivers and people’s voices. Starting March 16th 2012 by calling the German telephone number 0721 – 8100... [Read more] |
Center for Art and Media (ZKM) Karlsruhe, Germany, Karlsruhe, Germany | Details |