INITIAL THOUGHTS

Since the very first listening of the sound piece, I was immediately fascinated about how tactile, textural and unique the sound felt. In my design I knew that I wanted to embrace, convey and enhance these intimate feelings.

The performance revolves around custom built or custom modified instruments, performed within three sound pieces. I wanted each sound piece to have a unique and precise visual feel, while keeping the aesthetic of the work connected to the overall experience

PROTOTYPING

One of the instruments used is the Vibrating Plank, consisting of a thick plank of wood with several speakers attached to it. During the show one member of the audience is invited to lay over the plank to experience the tactile and sound vibration generated by this instrument.

Another instrument that we knew we wanted to use are three floor toms made of clear perspex. For this instrument I imagined something elegant, provided by a light generating a pleasant glow with the least possible intrusive look.

I decided to install a circular tape light inside the tom itself, in order to highlight the shape of the floor tom itself, using the tom’s skin as a soft diffuser to illuminate the performer. 

For this part of the work, an audience member was invited to lay underneath the floor toms, and I needed to be careful to provide an illumination that was adequate and comfortable for a person not used to being on stage.

PRELIMINARY DESIGN STAGE

My process relies on visualising and sharing my ideas early and often to my creative collaborators.

During the design stage I started sketching ideas using pen, pencil and paper.

Not all the instruments were available for lighting prototyping, and these sketches provided a solid and initial foundation of what the final design would have looked like.

VISUALISING

While these drawings and sketches consolidated and rehearsal commenced, I was working in 3D to identify the most suitable lighting positions, the design colour palette and some geometrical shapes that I wanted to use.

For the Tuning Forks, the opening piece, I knew I wanted to suggest a sense of ritual, while keeping the audience member, a person likely not used to being on stage, in a safe and comfortable lighting environment. To achieve this I positioned small lighting sources on the floor around the tiles, in a circular shape.

The Refined Design

Here some photos of the completed design