Babylon Gamelan Returns
May 2025 half term holiday saw the return of Babylon Gamelan to the IOU Studio for a week of sonic fun and interactive workshops
May half term holiday, was a week of hands on noisy joy and sonic chaos with over 200 audiences of all ages came to the IOU Creations Centre studio meet the Babylon Gamelan
Standing four metres tall, made from recycled materials and found objects, and inspired by the Tower of Babel, ‘Babylon Gamelan is a joyous mechanical sound sculpture and interactive percussive installation’.
Created by Rag & Bone artist Dave Young, Babylon Gamelan is a series of mechanical sound sculptures and noise-making machines, standing over four metres tall and made from recycled materials and found objects. It is designed for hands-on exploration and suitable for all ages.
Everyone had so much fun touching, drumming and triggering the sensors, creating a vibrant soundscape through this playful installation
“Ever since Babylon Gamelan landed at our Studio during its final stages of development we knew we’d love to be able to host it to the public here at IOU, Dean Clough. Such an amazing, tactile and playful sculpture deserves to be shared with as many people as possible. It was a delight to see visitors experiencing the joy of interacting with Baby G.” Rich Warburton, Creative Director, IOU Creation Centre
Babylon Gamelan’s creator Dave Young is a founder of Rag & Bone – and in his own words ‘an artist, maker, bodger, artificer, and apprentice rogue alchemist.’ He has also worked as sculptor, animator and film-maker, blacksmith, metalworker, pyro-technician, set-builder, puppeteer and workshop leader.
Babylon Gamelan was originally commissioned by Artichoke Trust as part of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council’s Creative Explorers Programme. MORE
As well as the ‘Baby G’ the week saw young participants get hands on with e-waste in a playful and inspiring Scavengers workshop all about hacking, tinkering, fixing, breaking and up-cycling led by Calderdale based Noisy Toys
‘The kids have had so much fun learning about different sounds and how they are created’.
