ALVIN LUCIER: Empty Vessels

Sound installation

Atelier Nord ANX, Olaf Ryes pl. 2, 0552 Oslo (entrance from Sofienberggt.)


Opening 4th September 2013 at 7 pm. Exhibition period: 5th – 29th September. Open daily from 13 – 18 from 5th – 14th September and
 Thursday to Sunday from 12 – 17 from 15th – 29th September.

Empty Vessels (1997) belongs to a series of works in which Alvin Lucier studies the resonance characteristics of the smallest interior spaces. He has placed eight glass water containers and vases on pedestals along the space’s south wall. Microphones are placed in the openings of the empty vessels, and each is rooted through limiters to speakers. The eight loudspeakers are positioned exactly opposite, along the space’s north wall. The amplifier in each microphone-loudspeaker system is selected in such a way that each strand of feedback is marked by the resonant characteristics of the respective vessel. This creates a controlled feedback field of resonant tones and their interferences in the ANX gallery space. When entering the field, the visitor disrupts the delicate balance of the system, creating new feedbacks with unexpected frequencies. Even a small head movement is enough to hear a multifaceted, fluctuating spectrum of pitches. Realization: Nicolas Collins and curator: Carsten Seiffarth. Read more about Alvin Lucier and his program in Oslo during the Ultima Festival.