Speaking Tubes
Speaking Tubes is a sculptural sound installation inspired by the sound of high velocity vortex rings.
Speaking Tubes is a sculptural sound installation made of large air-ducting tubes and giant cones that emit a chorus of soundscapes into special listening zones.
Created by an explosion chamber at the narrow end of the cone-shaped cannon filled with acetylene gas, Speaking Tubes creates a unique and immersive sound experience. When ignited, a supersonic pulse of gas and air is created which forms a vortex ring and causes the sound to travel through space.
A specially commissioned soundtrack has been created for Speaking Tubes by international contemporary music composer, Yannis Kyriakides. Speaking Tubes centres on a prominent IOU theme; combining science and art, mixing the natural and the man-made to create an atmospheric score that fills the space.
Visitors are invited to engage with the soundscape, which appears to move in-and-around the space inhabited by the objects, and interact with the objects via touch.
The soundscapes have been recorded using binaural sound design so please listen with headphones for the best effect.
Visitors are invited to engage with the soundscape, which appears to move in-and-around the space inhabited by the objects, and interact with the objects via touch
Speaking Tubes is an industrial sculptural sound installation inspired by the extraordinary sound of vortex rings travelling through the atmosphere at supersonic speed.
Visitors will be able to move around and explore the gleaming steel sculpture made of large air-ducting tubes and giant cones that spills out a chorus of sound into special listening zones
An interactive area is created as part of Speaking Tubes, enabling the visitor to enter the listening zones to make their own sound journey, creating their own soundscape. Specially created 3D pictures and animations showing the movement of sound is also available for audiences to view. These remain invisible until uncovered using smart-phones and tablets which are available to use and discover this hidden layer.
Speaking Tubes is a durational piece that can run all day. Audiences can move through and around the installation through it in a covid-secure manner and it is suitable for all ages. It is designed for both outdoors and indoors and is weatherproof. Speaking Tubes is suitable locations is any flat ground area big enough to accommodate the shows footprint and the access point.
The installation comprises five large ‘T’ shaped objects, made out of steel tubing approximately 60cm in diameter and featuring 2m flared conical ends, placed in a circle, with the flared ends facing each other. At the base of each object is a system of speakers. A soundscape is played through the speakers within the objects.
A new custom made frame is being created to support the presentation of the artwork outdoors so that the Speaking Tubes are fully weatherproof.
Speaking in Tubes is fully accessible and suitable for audiences of all ages.
The original concept was devised and designed by David Wheeler and developed with Amsterdam based composer Yannis Kyriakides, recent winner of the Johann Wagenaar Oeuvre prize. A further three sound compositions have been made by Loui Binns, Katie English and Jo Thomas. Links to their work can be found here:
Speaking Tubes Online: New Commissions | Articles
The soundscapes have been recorded using binaural sound design so please listen with headphones for the best effect.
Speaking Tubes was originally commissioned by Junction Goole and has been made possible through a Strategic Touring Grant from Arts Council England with the aim of supporting the development of new audiences for digital arts. Speaking Tubes has visited Goole, Halifax and will visit Barnsley in 2016.
