http://www.lukejerram.com/aeolus
Aeolus - Acoustic Wind Pavilion
Aeolus - ruler of the four winds in Greek mythology.>>>>Extended dates NOW Open at MediaCityUK, Salford until 4th December<<<<
Aeolus is a giant stringed musical instrument, an acoustic and optical pavilion designed to make audible the silent shifting patterns of the wind and to visually amplify the ever changing sky.
Aeolus is a giant aeolian harp, designed to resonate and sing with the wind without any electrical power or amplification. Vibrations in strings attached to some of the tubes are transferred through skins covering the tops, and projected down through the tubes towards the viewer standing beneath the arch.
Aeolus sonifies the three dimensional landscape of wind, using a web of aeolian harp strings. Almost like cats' whiskers sensitive to the slightest touch, the stings register the shifting landscape of wind around the artwork to be heard by visitors. The aim is for the public to be able to visualise this shifting wind map by interpreting the sound around them.
Sound of Aeolus at Eden Project
For those tubes without strings attached, the tubes are tuned to an aeolian scale and hum at a series of low frequencies even when its not windy.
Beneath the arch a viewer can look out through a field of 310 internally polished stainless steel tubes simultaneously, each of which draws the landscape of light through the structure whilst humming at a series of low frequencies. These light pipes act to frame, invert and magnify the landscape around the pavilion enabling the viewer to contemplate an ever changing landscape of light. As the clouds and sun move across the sky throughout the day, the visual experience for the public will dramatically alter minute by minute, hour by hour.
" I was bowled over by Aeolus – it was mesmerising – a truly beautiful and calming piece – fantastic project – thank you for the experience." Maggie Bolt. Previous Director of Public Art South West.
Dr Ian Drumm Talking about how it works
Watch video of Dr Ian Drumm, acoustic scientist from Salford University's Acoustic Research Centre discusses its acoustic properties.
Sound recording of Aeolus at Lyme Park
Aeolus has just been presented at Lyme Park, Cheshire. Listen to MP3 sound recording of Aeolus.
The Aeolus sculpture and associated science public engagement is the result of a collaboration between Luke Jerram and Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton and The Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford.
Slide show and interview with Luke Jerram about the artwork..
See and 'Like' the Aeolus Facebook page
An investigation into acoustics, wind, architecture and light, Aeolus was inspired by Luke Jerram's research trip to Iran in 2007 where he explored the mosques of Isfahan and interviewed a Qanat desert well digger about his life. The well digger spoke of the wells singing in the wind which led Jerram to investigate the acoustics of architecture and create this new work.
Additional Acoustic Properties
As the arch is double curved, (a wedge section taken from a sphere) acoustics under the arch are extraordinary. The arch acts as an acoustic lens, focusing any sounds made by the tubes (or by a visitor standing under the arch) to a central point. A bizarre echo can be heard. Jerram witnessed this effect whilst in Iran studying the geometry and acoustic properties of mosques.Discovered by chance, the wider end of the arch also acts as a mild sonic crystal, filtering sounds from one side of the tubes to the other.
Educational Outreach
An extensive programme of creative engineering workshops has been funded and is in place to follow the artwork. Go to www.aeolus-outreach.com for more information. See this Pdf of DIY Toolkit made for schools, created through educational workshops carried out so far.A 'Making of Aeolus' exhibition will be presented at the RWA, Bristol 8thSept-10thOct
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