Piano Migration Installation
Video documentation from exhibition at m8show, OVADA gallery, Oxford, Oct 2008. This installation as been shown at various UK venues including, Shunt, London; Arnolfini, Bristol; Bluecoat, Liverpool; and The Merlin, Frome.
A kinetic sound sculpture made from a disembodied piano that responds to a video projection of birds landing on telegraph lines that is projected onto the back of the piano strings frame. The video is visually akin to a musical score or piano roll. As the birds land and take off, small motor driven devices are triggered to play parts of the piano. There are two version of this piece, one where the mechanisms are triggeed by the 'step sequencer' version of analysis as created by Ivan Franco for Piano Migration V, the other version using an matrix analysis created by Matthew Olden, where any movement of a bird triggers a mechanism in the equivelent position on the piano strings. This piece was first shown at OVADA gallery, Oxford in sept/oct 08 and was positioned so the piano strings were first viewed through the gallery window. It was later shown at Shunt Vaults, London (Nov 08) and The Bluecoat (May 09). On all occasions, these were in conjunction with other piano migrations works, and were adapted to suit the specific spaces.
