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The magic of a total lunar eclipse as aurally
encapsulated and transmitted
by Marcel, the cat.
Sound Art Installation @ Galleria CONTACT Rome,
Italy - Opening:
November 2019
Please support this unique project and help as many people as possible to experience it.
This project will be inclusive: open and readily available to any interested person, regardless of educational, cultural or economic background. We believe that art, and art that seeks to propose an awareness of unifying principles and/or intuits that which science has not yet proved, should not remain exclusive.
- Acousmatic sound art installation in project-specific ambience/set-up in contemporary art gallery located in the superb Monti district in the centre of Rome. The creative set-up is to support the project's strong philosophical/humanitarian concept. It is a bridge-building project between arts & science, between cultures & seeks to draw the attention to the underlying unity of all life. This project strives to give the visitors/audience an experience in that direction by starting with a unique audio recording which is the sole sound source used for the creation of the entire sound art work. Art, esp. sound, is capable of having a transformative effect which can stimulate harmony between people & with the environment/creation overall. In that sense, it is a ‘peace building agent’. After its initial reception in Galleria Contact, it is envisaged to take the installation to other places, cities and countries.
Organizations & artists involved in this project
-
Silvia Simons
Sound artist, original idea
Multi award-winning composer & sound artist
(click here for abbreviated bio)
https://www.silviasimons.com/
-
Marco Contini
Galleria Contact artecontemporanea
Collaborator on artistic set-up, feedback/input re sound art, Project Manager
Technical, Logistics and Communication Partner
Concept elaboration, Communication, Participation
Disclaimer: This campaign, Art without Borders, is the sole initiative of composer & sound artist Silvia Simons, for the purpose of securing funds to help her achieve the objectives and successful outcome of this project as outlined in the campaign. No other mentioned party carries any responsibility for this campaign and its distribution.
The story behind it:
On 31 January 2018, there was a total lunar eclipse to be observed in Melbourne. As I didn’t feel well, I was in bed watching through the large windows which go to ground level, how the garden, magically lit up by the full moon, gradually transformed and darkened till virtually pitch black when the eclipse reached its totality some time around midnight. At that precise moment, the cat Marcel who lives in that house jumped on my bed, pressed himself gently against me and started purring deeply, loudly and regularly for what seemed a long time. I put my ear on his body listening, which put me into what one might call an alpha-brain-wave state. There was a sense of timelessness and unity with all creation: no past or future, no separation but a complete sense of oneness with all life and a tranquil happiness.
The sound art:
It occurred to me to record Marcel purring during this eclipse. This recording now forms the basis for the sound art. It is the only sound source used, i.e.: no other sounds are introduced into this work. However, as the work progresses, at times I process/manipulate these purring sounds to various degrees and at times I leave them as recorded, forming a multi-layered whole.
The key concept or ‘philosophical premise’:
All is energy or vibration forming unique ‘constellations’ at
any given time which cannot be pulled apart. The event and ‘energy’
of the lunar eclipse is encapsulated in that particular purr. It is
no mere coincidence. The two are intrinsically linked, bound up with
each other producing a whole. Regardless of people perhaps thinking,
that Marcel’s purr would be the same at any other given time, I
propose, that this would not be the case. In other words: by
recording Marcel during the eclipse, I also recorded the energy or
vibrations of that eclipse. The cat, due to its animal nature which
is not cluttered by a mind full of busy thoughts and preconceived
ideas as in humans, becomes a kind of transmitter for the cosmic
phenomenon of the eclipse, which then manifests itself aurally in
the purring.
Throughout the ages, lunar eclipses exerted a powerful
influence on many cultures which gave birth to a myriad of myths
such as, for example, a jaguar attacking and eating the moon in
ancient Inca beliefs. As well, eclipses were often feared as an omen
of something terrible going to challenge and interrupt the normal
flow of life. Today, maybe one can propose, that there is indeed a
special, strong kind of energy during an eclipse if one is open to
it, which does not forebode disaster, but which can induce a
meditative kind of consciousness which recognizes the underlying
unity of all life rather than separate individuals in conflict.
Thus, this sound art installation may become a vehicle for producing
such a state in the listener as it has, with the help of modern
technology, ‘fixed’ so-to-speak the lunar eclipse energy by
utilizing the recorded purring of that time. The purring of a cat is
naturally conducive to a less stressful, more meditative state of
being but, I suggest, magnified here by the added phenomenon of the eclipse.
Thanking you for your invaluable financial support & dissemination of this campaign to your networks. It will guarantee:
- free availability for all as outlined
- hire of audio equipment
- promotion
- help towards my stay in Rome during project, i.e:
3 weeks preparatory set-up work
15 days open to public who can enjoy the acousmatic presentations and engage in talks & forums facilitated e.g. by Filosofia in movimento.
Perks
An Australian Incantation by Silvia Simons was premiered at the 3rd Sfogato International Arts Festival Cracow, Poland. Duration: 10'09" Click on link below to listen to an excerpt. It is a meditative piece, which invites the listener to close their eyes, relax and drift into archaic, wide & empty (but really not so empty) spaces of Australia, filled with Spirits of the Ancients as in the Indigenous Dreaming. It utilizes eclectic sound material: taken from recorded improvisations with Peter Simondson on Contrabass & Silvia Simons on Flute/Voice, from recorded bird, insect & nature sounds of Australia, and other sounds.
"Just so" by Silvia Simons © 2017 Duration: 2'10" It can be set as a mobile ring or alarm tone or enjoyed as a short, uplifting piece of music. The track is available in wav or high quality mp3. To listen to an excerpt click on link below. You will receive "Just so" together with the audio file of the Australian Butcherbird.
Highlights
See all activity13Activity
An Australian Incantation by Silvia Simons was premiered at the 3rd Sfogato International Arts Festival Cracow, Poland. Duration: 10'09" Click on link below to listen to an excerpt. It is a meditative piece, which invites the listener to close their eyes, relax and drift into archaic, wide & empty (but really not so empty) spaces of Australia, filled with Spirits of the Ancients as in the Indigenous Dreaming. It utilizes eclectic sound material: taken from recorded improvisations with Peter Simondson on Contrabass & Silvia Simons on Flute/Voice, from recorded bird, insect & nature sounds of Australia, and other sounds.
"Just so" by Silvia Simons © 2017 Duration: 2'10" It can be set as a mobile ring or alarm tone or enjoyed as a short, uplifting piece of music. The track is available in wav or high quality mp3. To listen to an excerpt click on link below. You will receive "Just so" together with the audio file of the Australian Butcherbird.
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