Current Projects
THRESHOLDS –September 2017
A new temporary public sound sculpture
for Swansea High Street
Thresholds is a temporary public sound sculpture comprising four tall triangular scaffolding structures, on which are mounted four large brightly coloured resin sound reflectors, each with an accompanying speaker. The speakers play a fun and quirky sound arrangement comprising field recordings from Swansea High Street and sounds and music made by pupils at Ysgol Crug Glas. The sound arrangement will be audible at the level of ‘background noise’, unless you walk underneath the sound reflectors, which will then focus the sound so that it is slightly louder and clearer.
We have worked closely and carefully with engineers and scaffolders to design a scaffolding structure that is both safe and attractive, and which works in the unique space of the alleyway. The scaffolding structure will be fully clad in scaffolding boards, which will be painted bright colours. The triangular scaff towers will have in-built benches (which conceal the concrete required to weight the structure), which will also be clad in scaff boards, and then covered in ply and astroturf. Small lamps concealed within the bases of the towers will cast light upwards through the structure. Colourful abstract patterns will be applied using appropriate temporary paint to the areas underneath the dishes, drawing people into the installation.
What the public will experience
The sound sculpture will be a striking and colourful intervention into what is currently a little-used, grey and anonymous alleyway. We hope that it is something that will draw people to High Street: an unusual urban experience that inspires people to see, hear and think about the High Street in new ways and plays its part in the regeneration of the local area as Swansea’s creative quarter.
King George V Park Cheltenham
Rob Olins will be working with residents, stakeholders and volunteers to plant 25 trees and hundreds of wildflowers in the King George V Playing Field. The planting will be adjacent to the new public art installation enhancing it as a friendly attractive gathering space at the heart of the park. We will increase park usage drawing in previously under represented user groups who can enjoy the seclusion of the seating and wonderful views. The art installation will encourage active play and its sound reflective feature is designed to be accessible to disability groups particularly wheelchair users and the visually impaired. The native flora and fauna will broaden local biodiversity. The project will encourage local engagement and increase the involvement. The outcomes will be sustainable and enjoyment of local people through the care, maintenance, usage generating sustainability in years to come.
Below Model and Drawings of the scheme
Rob Olins will be working with residents, stakeholders and volunteers to plant 25 trees and hundreds of wildflowers in the King George V Playing Field. The planting will be adjacent to the new public art installation enhancing it as a friendly attractive gathering space at the heart of the park. We will increase park usage drawing in previously under represented user groups who can enjoy the seclusion of the seating and wonderful views. The art installation will encourage active play and its sound reflective feature is designed to be accessible to disability groups particularly wheelchair users and the visually impaired. The native flora and fauna will broaden local biodiversity. The project will encourage local engagement and increase the involvement. The outcomes will be sustainable and enjoyment of local people through the care, maintenance, usage generating sustainability in years to come.
Below Model and Drawings of the scheme
Sonic Waterloo July 2 -9 2017
A festival that presents activities around the subject of sound. It connects sound art and location and reinforces cultural networks in the Waterloo area. London.
The festival will provide a unique experience through its use of materials and ideas not explored in any previous events. The festival will spread its activities into the public domain and other surrounding spaces.
Through a series of participatory outdoor and indoor events it will provide exclusive learning opportunities, facilitating new ideas about sound arts and other disciplines.
Rob Olins and Lee Berwick recently had have an installation on Lower Marsh Waterloo.. The sound composition for these sound mirror installations draws on the long history of Lower Marsh as a Street Market and uses archive recordings of London Markets as well as field recordings made by the composer, These recordings have then been tweaked and treated so that they emphasise the reflective qualities of the sound dishes. The mirrors focus the soundwaves so that at some points one hears what appears to be “all around” sound and then by moving a small distance, sometimes only with a slight movement of the head, the volume and quality disappears. Consequently as one moves about the space what you hear radically changes.
Visit iklectikartlab.com/sonic-waterloo/ and sonicwaterloo.tumblr.com
A festival that presents activities around the subject of sound. It connects sound art and location and reinforces cultural networks in the Waterloo area. London.
The festival will provide a unique experience through its use of materials and ideas not explored in any previous events. The festival will spread its activities into the public domain and other surrounding spaces.
Through a series of participatory outdoor and indoor events it will provide exclusive learning opportunities, facilitating new ideas about sound arts and other disciplines.
Rob Olins and Lee Berwick recently had have an installation on Lower Marsh Waterloo.. The sound composition for these sound mirror installations draws on the long history of Lower Marsh as a Street Market and uses archive recordings of London Markets as well as field recordings made by the composer, These recordings have then been tweaked and treated so that they emphasise the reflective qualities of the sound dishes. The mirrors focus the soundwaves so that at some points one hears what appears to be “all around” sound and then by moving a small distance, sometimes only with a slight movement of the head, the volume and quality disappears. Consequently as one moves about the space what you hear radically changes.
Visit iklectikartlab.com/sonic-waterloo/ and sonicwaterloo.tumblr.com
