Black Hole Horizon

Photographs © Klaus Fritze

What kind of relations exists between oscillating air, black holes and soap bubbles? What effect does the sound of horns have on the human psyche and why is it present in various creation myths? What impact does gravity have on our collective consciousness? Where do spectacle and contemplation meet? Black Hole Horizon is a meditation on a spectacular machine that transforms sound into three-dimensional objects and keeps the space in steady transformation.

The nucleus of the installation is the invention of an apparatus resembling a ship horn. With the sounding of each tone, a huge soap bubble emerges from the horn. It grows while the tone sounds, peels off the horn, lingers through the exhibition space and finally bursts at an erratic position within the room.

The complete installation comprises three horns that vary in size and form according to their individual pitch and timbre. Visitors can walk through the room witnessing the transformation of sound into ephemeral sculptures, which last only for seconds before their material remains are deposited on the walls and floor.

Horn Objects: Polyurethane, acrylic, brass tubes, piano-wire, latex tubing | Further Materials: Steel barrels, perestaltic pumps, liquid tubing, servo motors, arduino, computer/MaxMsp, electronic wiring, air compressors, air tubing, soap bubble liquid | Dimensions: Variable; minimum extension: 50qm | Year: 2012-2017

Credits

Black Hole Horizon was commissioned by EMPAC – The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media And Performing Arts Center and was produced in cooperation with the School of Architecture of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Mechatronics: David Jaschik | CAD operator: Zackery Belanger | Production support at EMPAC: Eric Lin, Peter Zhang, Eric Ameres, Argeo Ascani, and Johannes Goebel

Special thanks to Argeo Ascani and Johannes Goebel for organizing and providing the interdisciplinary production resources. Realized with the kind support of EMPAC, Troy, New York.