Into the dominion of vibrations

Abstract

The thesis consists of a written theoretical part “Into the Dominion of Vibrations” and a sound art installation vib||sub.

“Into the Dominion of Vibrations” is an investigation into infrasound, the borderland between sound and vibration, into the zone of transformation where they co-exist. It is an area where the events that can be heard may emerge from perceptions of touch and the things that can be felt may emerge from something listened to.

Sound and hearing are used as points of departure and as methods of investigation. The perception of infrasound is situated and its actions are corporeal. The effects of infrasound are examined against the established uses of mediation as practices of storage and displacement, the methods of bridging differing times and scattered spaces.

An account is given of the history and present conceptions of infrasound, describing the changing understandings of it in various times, which are connected to the evolving conceptions of the sens-es and the body. On the next part infrasound as material of artistic practices and the technologies used to produce it are discussed. The final part is about the concept and realization of the installation.

The installation vib||sub was held at Galleria Akusmata 17.4 – 24.4.2015. The installation can be regarded as a continuation to the written part, as argumentation and commentary on the theorizations and conclusions of infrasound as an affective phenomenon and as material of art presented in it.