Oorwonde - a tactile experience

Laura Maes

The exposition focuses on Oorwonde, a specific practical experiment within the research project Sounding sound art. The work, which falls somewhere between a sound installation and an interactive performance, consists of specially constructed stainless steel operating table upon which visitors, or ‘patients’ are invited to undergo ‘aural surgery’. Next to the concept and construction of Oorwonde, related practices are discussed in terms of their use of subsonic sound in interactive works or installations. The exposition introduces contextual information in regard to the artist’s broader work on the question of what constitutes ‘sound art’, while it’s main purpose remains the description and analysis of this new sound work, as a piece of artistic research.

Oorwonde is a very intimate experience where everything is focused on hearing and feeling. To stimulate this, a very bright lamp comprising 5 x 57 white LEDs is mounted at the head of the table so as to shine directly in the face of the patient who has no other possibility than to close his eyes. The light stimulates the patient to fully concentrate on sensing and hearing.

The combination of the simple yet elegant lamp design and the strength of the produced light add to the medical aura of Oorwonde.

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