Light Years, Week Days is a site-specific installation that explores the movement of the repeated, and, at first glance, unsystematic tinkling of chimes. The chimes reference Roman philosopher Pliny’s hypothesis that the constant rotation and movement of the air, the earth and the planets in different directions emits a “sweet harmonious music”. The timing of chimes tinkling can be indirectly controlled by choosing the length of the chimes’ pendulum and the distance between the chimes. This way original music pieces can be designed, but then played by the random wind blasts in the tunnel.
The Inspiration
Light Years, Week Days is the second iteration of an installation work, ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS STAY, which was featured in the WonderChaos exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (2021). The original installation had 20 chimes and 300 bells hung on a very large tree, which forms the foundation of the sound and movement piece – an exploration of order and chaos through music.
The Process
The art installation serves as the springboard for the module MUA 3275 Sonic Circuit, created by Composer Chow Jun Yan at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. The module presents an interdisciplinary learning opportunity where art, music, science and engineering intersect, allowing students to intervene with the artwork through creative music innovation. The end goal of the module’s onsite intervention is to provide interdisciplinary participation, generating new perspectives, curiosity and learning for students and the NUS Community.
The Collaborators
Light Years, Week Days is created by visual artist Kate Daudy and Nobel prize-winning physicist Prof Kostya Novoselov, Director of the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials and is curated by Karen Lim, Curator, NUS Museum and Secretariat for NUS’ Public Art Committee. Art Interventions are made by students from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music modules – Sonic Circuit and Live Interactivity, led by Dr Chow Jun Yan and supported by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.
Student Contributors
Engineering Solutions:
Kravtsov Mikhail
Grebenchuk Sergey
Music Solutions:
Chew Joshua Gabriel Hok On
Chow Hong Yao
David Micheal Woodside
Ganesh Abhinav Srivatsa
Hu Kevin S
Ng Xin Ci
Pak Alexis Jin Sun
Regalado Ortiz Daniel
Tan Guang Xin
Wang Leo
Wong Tina
This artwork will still be available after 26 Mar 2023.
