POLYPHONY
EXPERIENCE THE WORLD VIA AMPLIFIED SOUND, 2013
STUDIO WEAVE (GB)
Polyphony functions as a large compound ear that separates, abstracts and re-organises the myriad sounds of the world. Numerous listening horns, crafted from spun metal, are arranged across the large surface area of a sphere, and together they capture sounds from different directions.
Commissioned for the 2013 UK Crafts Council Touring exhibition Sound Matters, this work assumes that the critical organ required to experience this exhibition is the ear, rather than the eye. By offering an acoustically buffered environment, the sounds of the surrounding exhibition and gallery are captured, amplified and the harvested sounds conjure up a new soundscape.
BIO
Founded in 2006, Studio Weave is an architecture practice based in London known for a narrative-led design approach, fascinated by the powerful role that stories play in creating a sense of place. The studio is drawn to sustainable materials and processes and favours working with small, local makers and suppliers to create a diverse body of work, ranging from furniture and exhibition design, to buildings, urban planning and landscapes. Sound-related projects include the transformation of an exterior space into the Lullaby Factory at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, and a series of large-scale acoustic sculptures commissioned by the National Trust for Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. Studio Weave’s work has been acknowledged by a number of awards, including the Architectural Review’s International Emerging Architecture award and the Civic Trust Awards.