ALMAT @ impuls - Workshop 2019 by Hanns Holger Rutz

Algorithms that Matter (ALMAT) focuses on the experimentation with algorithms and their embedding in sound works. Rather than conceiving algorithms as established building blocks or the a priori formalisation of a compositional idea, we look at them as performing entities whose consequences are irreducible to models. Algorithms “matter” in the sense that matter and meaning cannot be distinguished, neither can artists and their computational tools. Algorithms actively produce spaces and temporalities which become entangled with their physical embeddings. In 2019, we created a workshop within the impuls . 11th International Ensemble and Composers Academy for Contemporary Music, taking place in the Museum of Perception (MUWA) Graz, February 11–21, 2019. It focused on the development of a site-specific sound installation. The installation explored the interactions of algorithmic and physical spaces and their dynamic and mutable properties. Participants worked on the premise that spaces and our perception of them change depending on presence, absence, the movement of visitors, the time of the day, the rhythm of the surroundings as well as the sonic and algorithmic interventions we bring into them. The workshop sought to attract computer music practitioners, sound artists and composers by offering a platform for exchange and reflection about their personal approaches towards algorithmic experimentation. The participants were invited to develop their various approaches within an atmosphere of collaboration, where special emphasis was given to the translation of environmental data (such as sensor input from the surroundings and visitors) through computer music systems developed and assembled by the participants and tutors. The workshop was held with technical infrastructure provided by the Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics (IEM), including an 48-channel sound system and a selection of sensors. The workshop ALMAT was developed by David Pirrò and Hanns Holger Rutz (both IEM Graz) and was held together with the special support by Robin Minard.

return

The MUWA building was built in 1904 as a public bath. Please feel free to play with the water at the entrance and listen to the sound of our imaginary bath.

{origin: program notes, keywords: [water], place: muwa}

Project proposal

I would like to propose to make a sonic transition from “outside” and “inside”. It is a process of defamiliarizing, but rather than a pure illusion, it is an augmented factor, that the movement of the audience does make them “leave” the nature. Assuming the installation is in a space that one side is closer to natural/ open space, and the other side is closer to a closed space such as a room or a wall, I would call the first side “outside” and the latter “inside”. 4 pairs of speakers are placed throughout the space, on the “inside” side, the distance between pairs of speakers can be smaller. 2 microphones are placed on the “outside” side and sending sounds to computer real time or after an interval of 1 minutes. The sound will be cut to slices and be the material to recompose. From the “outside” to the “inside”, the level of recompose will be gradually higher. If I have more time: Some pulse/ rhythms can be found on the “inside” side. The pulse/ rhythms are influenced by the walking speed of the audience. The speed will be detected on the “outside” side. The sensor to use can be a footpad (pressure sensor), a Kinect camera, or mobile phones which carried by the audience.

{origin: project proposal, keywords: [outside, inside, audience, movement, speakers, microphone]}

Dong Zhou

---
meta: true
date: Feb-2019
event: impuls academy
place: muwa
keywords: [exhibition, sound art]
author: Dong Zhou
---

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