2024
Installation involving 12 channel speaker arrangement, phoneme data, neural machine, vinyl tubing, rope-light, 5 channel raster video, white carpet
"Pshal, P'shaw" is a multimedia exploration of phonetic expression's auditory and rhythmic nuances through text, sound, video, data, and customized learning software, inspired by Hermann Finsterlin's architectural renderings. Originating from a residency at the Max Planck Institute of Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt in 2023, the project delves into the sonic landscape of 8 diphthongs in US English, recorded with participants from diverse backgrounds.
Going beyond technical analysis, the project's script, infused with a contemporary US Western dialect, explores the primal essence of phonetic expression and its impact on the oral landscape. Introducing software as a discerning partner, the project resonates with the cadence of oral discourse, shaping sonic outcomes and manipulating variables intentionally.
The multifaceted installation incorporates composed arrangements, a 12-channel speaker setup, phoneme data, a neural machine, vinyl tubing, rope-light, and 5-channel raster video. The 12-channel spatial sound installation navigates phoneme classifications along an x-y axis, refined by an algorithm based on multiples of 12. Audiences encounter intricate phonetic compositions punctuated by dissimilar variations from 28 participant-provided vocabulary.
An interwoven, suspended structure delineates invisible lines between syntax points, rendered visible by light, with ropes of light marking initial connections between speech particles. The development of generative software led to a 5-channel video series exploring oral discourse connections, gradually abstracting participant profiles influenced by phonetic sounds' frequency and dynamics.
This approach offers a unique perspective on phonetics and linguistic evolution, encouraging reflection on the interplay between human expression, technological innovation, and evolving human experiences.
To be exhibited: This work will be exhibited at The Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt, Germany from May 16 to July 24, 2024.
Audio release: publication and record release in collaboration with raster media (DE), to be out in June 2024.
Curated by Eike Walkenhorst
Production support with the ARTLAB team, Max Planck institute for Empirical Aesthetics
Max/ MSP consultant and designer: Matthew Ostrowski