Hum, Modulation I

Hum, Modulation I (2015)

Steel frame, steel strings and wires of different diameters, electro-magnets, electro-magnetic pickups, amplifier, mixer, speakers

A steel frame is mounted to the ceiling with eight steel strings and wires of different diameters. The Installation Hum, Modulation I uses the hum of the mains voltage to set a string in motion with a electro-magnet. The oscillations are picked up, made audible and send to a electro-magnet attached to the next string. The signal is modulated by the resonant frequency of this string. The modulation is set forth to a closed circuit set-up, where the oscillations of a string are interfering with the oscillation of the string before.

The result is a drone constantly subject to changes by superpositions and cancellations. Due to the physical limitation of the oscillation there is no resonance disaster. Instead, there is a moving equilibrium. This balance refers to the condition of its possibility: the static balance between the weight of the frame and the tension of the strings.

The work Hum Modulation I is more than just a physical experiment. The errors of the devices and the AC hum are used and understood as a potential to create a self-feeding signal processing engine that performs continuous processes of translation from one resonant frequency to another.

Nevertheless, the work may be understood as a commentary on the dystopian idea that man creates self-sufficient and autonomous machines and will be trapped in his once taken decisions without foreseeing the consequences of his actions in their scope.