Symphonic Infinitum is an ongoing body of work consisting of hybrid wall assemblages that explore the perceptual relationship of visualization and sound through instrumentation and play. Revisiting John Cage’s idea of chance, the work relies on audience participation to activate a visual system, allowing variations of order and chaos to influence how the work is perceived. I like to describe the work as a type of “physics machine”, similar to the anatomy of a pachinko game or a children’s handheld maze toy, where gravity, kinetics, and centrifugal force, cause small balls to roll around inside a circular structure. As the balls hit various parts of the structure, random percussive sounds are emitted. Each piece offers a unique interactive framework and runs in size from 18 inches to 7 feet in diameter. Rather than approaching sound from the vantage point of a musical instrument, this project investigates audio mechanics by creating a dialogue between visual aesthetics, embodied interaction, and the resulting effects on auditory perception.
“If you develop an ear for sounds that are musical it is like developing an ego. You begin to refuse sounds that are not musical and that way cut yourself off from a good deal of experience.”
— John Cage
To see more images of the work, please go to Roswell Museum, Post-Studio Projects instargram , or poststudiohou
Also see an image on Glasstire’s Featured Shots for 2015 on Instagram.
Sherman Finch – Symphonic Infinitum from Sherman Finch on Vimeo.
