Flyer for the exhibition at the Blank Gallery

You have to play to hear…

The samples gathered were processed as little as possible to retain the original characteristics of the sounds. The Sonic Body is not only a installation. It was first a intimate experiment and private performance, with all sounds recorded from the artist Harry Neve and his partner’s bodies. The result is a spectrum of bodily acoustics beyond what we can usually hear; a lung that sounds like a baby crying, an intestine that sounds like a rainforest, and even the anatomical sound of a female orgasm that sounds like high-pitch whistling. The project creates a unique way of thinking about and experiencing the body, through sound. 

Often people are scared to look ridiculous when confronted with interactive art, where it’s usually explicit that the piece can only function if the spectator uses it. The physical sensuality of the Sonic Body, however is something uncommon to interactive art, and as such allows people to feel comfortable with interacting and participating in public by offering an intimate space where the user is free to interact and enjoy.

The Sonic Body was first presented at the Blank Gallery, Brighton, 1 – 8 November 2007, and was part of the Brighton Digital Festival 2007.

This is one segment of a recording, but merged into stereo. Download link There is the background layer made of a sub rumble that goes trough slow and suttle variations. On top of this you will hear most the different sounds that was triggered/generated when touching or rubbing the textile shapes.

sonic body - blank gallery 07 - interior