Challenging Sounds Installation

      January 2005, H-Space, Seattle, Washington

    Challenging Sounds is a multimedia installation and event initiated by and featuring the work of Northwest artists Dave Hanoch and Nata Lukas. At the core of the exhibit are two video installations and numerous audioscapes.

    Driftwood Rub (pictured to the left, video stills above and below) is a video / performance collaboration between Nata Lukas and NYC based artist Erik Larsen. The video begins with a subtle rhythmic creaking, slowing working to an orgasmic crescendo of thumping and squeaking noise.

    Driftwood Rub is the first work one encounters upon entering the gallery. Visually the video is full of angles and destabilizing motion. Fittingly the video monitor sits slightly askew atop a mound of what appears to be a giant root ball. From the ceiling hang a number of driftwood roots that reflect and reinforce the organic shapes and sounds established in the video piece.

    Next, visitors encounter a listening station conveniently located in a corner that allows them to relax with a view down the length of the gallery. From this location one can hear a melange of sounds. From the occasional creaking and thumping of Driftwood Rub to the desperate screams from Sight Unseen; one hears the subtle drone of Substitute to Cipher Surfacing mixed with the varying rhythms and laughter of 7 as 1 emerging from the speakers mounted above the listening station. This is a great location to sample the aural stew of Challenging Sounds.

    From this location visitors get their first glimpse of Dave Hanoch's Sight Unseen a sampled video loop of a woman making exclamations with psychotic conviction. The looping repetition adds emphasis to the urgency of her exclamations. Taken from its original context (an early episode of Steven Spilberg's Night Gallery) it hightens the sense of psychosis this woman must be suffering.

    As viewers approach Sight Unseen they may become aware of sounds emerging from behind a wall. The various sounds are from Hanoch's 100 minute long soundscape Substitute to Cipher Surfacing featuring two different tracks played simultaneously. This piece is composed from found and created sounds that take you on a journey through time and space.

    Taken in as a whole this exhibit can be a bit overwhelming at times. With the various sound pieces cycling through at different rates there are moments of calm, moments of synchronicity and others of pure chaos. With the addition of live performances the chaos increases. The performances are a free form fun event with numerous performers taking turns to do their bit to bring some cohesion (or chaos) to the mix.

    In addition to the sound and video pieces there are several abstract paintings on display by Seattle designer, DJ, musician and artist extrodinaire, Dr. Clark Cromwell. Working with a complex process involving mannequins and recycled plexiglass, Dr. Cromwell creates works that have intriguing depth and soothing color schemes.

    You can find more sounds from this exhibition in my Audio File portfolio.

A copy of the press release for this exhibition can be found here.

©2005 Nata Lukas | nathan@natalukas.com