OMPHALOMIN
2006
interactive sound sculpture. Mixed media, height 80 cm.
The Omphalomin is a permanent
outdoor sound sculpture. It was commissioned by the Helsinki City Art
Museum 2006 and it is placed in a park in eastern Helsinki (Rekipellonpuisto,
Vesala).
The sculpture is made of stainless
steel and creates sound through optical sensors, which react to the movement
of the hands of the player. My inspiration for this work was the theremin,
one of the first electronic instruments (1919) and designed to be played
without being touched by it's creator Léon Theremin.
”Omphalos” is Greek and means
”navel”, the centre of the world. The mirror-like surface of the sculpture
reflects the environment, and the optic sensors reacts softly to the movement
of the hands of the player. The sound works as a sculptural element –
it has a mould, texture and dynamics.
I also planned the three winding
stone aisles that lead up to the small hill where the sculpture is placed.
My thanks to Jari Lehtinen
who invented the technical solutions, and to Klas Fontell at the Helsinki
City Art Museum who believed in the idea. |