3D_002_In_Class: Sound Fabrics and Soundscape

Hi!

A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment.

Part 1: In class Activity – Sound Fabric

During the in class activity, we listened to some sound and used the brown paper to express it in 3D form, sound fabric.

Pleasant sound: ADM Water Fountain

This sound is pleasant for me as it is somehow calming and give me the feeling of a japanese onsen and mountain area. So relaxing.

Peasant - ADM Water Fountain Sound Fabric
Pleasant Sound – ADM Water Fountain Sound Fabric

For me each water drop feels like it is in the shape of a line being curled (spiral) as it falls on another water surface.

spiral
spiral

I also feel like there are two significant water sound:
-the dominant one with lower pitch and heavier feeling
-the much less dominant with higher pitch and lower intensity

As such, I separate it into two main part (with roughly same overall size to say that both are equally important. One has thicker width representing the one with heavier feeling and the other has thinner width representing the lower intensity. Both has the same principle of spiral as each sound shaped like that in my mind.

The shape is being hung and the composition looks like it has a movement from up to down, representing the ‘fall’ of the water.

Unpleasant sound: Buzzer alarm

This sound is unpleasant for me as it is the sound of my annoying alarm. It really gives me the cringe and feels like each buzz is pierced through my hearing.

Unpleasant Sound - Buzzer Alarm
Unpleasant Sound – Buzzer Alarm Sound Fabric

So the twirl and pointy part represent the annoying and endless cringe of me whilelistening to that alarm. Each twirl represents one buzz and it is being twisted as it sounds like my hearing is being crumpled by it. I put them at constant distance as the duration between each buzz is constant. Also, the shape is a closed square showing that the buzz is enclosed and keep on repeating endlessly.

Part 2: Soundscapes

After the lesson, we were asked to create two A4 size soundscapes for two soundscape (can be different from in class activity).

Pleasant sound: ADM Water Fountain (same as previous part)

I decided to use the same sound as somehow, I like it more as I listen more to it. And somehow the sound sounds like the rain sound while I am inside a car/ room. It reminds me of my hometown, Bandung and childhood when I was inside a car and it was raining. It’s like being inside a warm and comforting place, feeling secure even though it was raining outside.

sdfs
Pleasant Sound – ADM Water Fountain Soundscape

I decide to use that thick plastic material that has a kinda neutral pitch with a quite heavy sound as previously I wanted to use thin plastic (the sound is too high pitch) or paper (the sound too light).

Still keeping the concept of the spiral, I cut all part to lines and spiral it. Then I connect both end to create an enclosed shape which represent the endless loop of the water as long as the fountain is turned on.

Unpleasant sound: Rolling Chair

This sound is unpleasant as it is quite annoying. Somehow when I listen to it, I picture myself studying/doing project in a room and there is someone who keeps on rolling the chair, disturbing my concentration.

2
Unpleasant Sound – Rolling Chair Soundscape

The sound of the rolling chair gives the sound of heavy friction between the wheel and surface. As such I used crumpled alumunium foil to show the uneven sound and friction. I chose this material as it has the friction with heavy feeling if i move my hand brushing through it.

And then there is the ‘ngik ngik’ squeaking  sound from the chair. This sound is not so significant hence it is only represented by small strip of transparent colored paper being folded into random direction unevenly (as the ‘ngik’ sound is uneven and irregular. I chose the material as the ‘ngik’ sound was clear and the color is not so dominating and can blend with the foil.

It was actually a fun activity for me as I have to try new things and use my imagination. Some sound evokes random memory while some just sound like a common sound with not much significant memory :D.



3D Project 2
Research: Hearing and Touch
In Class: Sound Fabrics and Soundscape
Inspiration and Process: Sound Texturizer Trial and Error
Final: THE SOUNDTUBE

One thought on “3D_002_In_Class: Sound Fabrics and Soundscape

  1. Good documentation. The choice of yellow plastic reflection on foil adds an interesting dimension however I am not sure if the overall sculpture ‘feels’ that unpleasant when compared to the translucent curls of the  water sound fabric.

Leave a Reply