#by phonopolis

[phonopolis]

IT LOOKED LIKE A MOON LANDSCAPE

SOUND INSTALLATION [2016]

IT LOOKED LIKE A MOON LANDSCAPE loop duration: 00:06:17 material: active loudspeakers, subwoofer, table, room with reverb

EXHIBITED : [21.05-18.06.2016] OpenHub | Netwerk - center for contemporary art | Aalst - BE

IT LOOKED LIKE A MOON LANDSCAPE is a sound work released during OpenHUB residency. The trajectory of the residency was based on the artistic practices of Aalst's artist, Claire Stragier, whose long-term research project In de Vaart der Volkeren is closely linked to the theme of rural vs. urban. This long term project consists of performances and interventions in public spaces, particularly along the railway line between Brussels and Aalst. These projects served as a starting point for a further development during the residency-in-group OpenHUB.

As one of the three selected artists Valeria Merlini developed the sound installation "It looked like a moon landscape". The title is a quote to Claire Stragier's description of a performance she did with Annelien Vermeir along the railway line that connects the cities of Brussels and Ghent. Overturning their concept, "It looked like a moon landscape" changed their perspective: the railroad's landscape is not the stage for interventions addressed to the travelers anymore, but trains passing by became the stage and travelers became the actors. The perfect place to observe trains, to listen to and to record environmental sounds was the roof of Netwerk, which faces the rail road. Microphones were located where imaginary seats for audiences could have been positioned, oriented to the railway line. The soundwork is a field recordings composition adapted to the acoustic qualities of the very much reverberating room chosen for the installation. The long rectangular shape of the conctrete room recalls in its geometries a line of wagons and is oriented towards the railway line, as well.

[phonopolis]

RESEARCH PROJECT [2012] Rummelsburg  |  Berlin - DE

Research project started by Peter Cusack  and Valeria Merlini

“Rummelsburg has transformed in the last decade. A residential area and community is now growing on the former industrial/prison area beside the Rummelsburger See. Today the Rummelsburg soundscape is unusually varied for a city area. Wildlife zones and the river create sonic variety, while aspects of the housing design blocks noise from busy roads nearby. It is a pleasant place to be. Community sounds have space to be heard. The rest of Berlin is clearly audible, but distant.

The discussion and research themes for Berlin Sonic Places, Rummelsburg will focuss on the idea of sound diversity, on the different methodologies for understanding soundscapes and on the surprising aural potential of gardens and plants. The presentations will include interactive sound maps and sonic representations of city infrastructures that have an impact on the area. The day also offers a guided soundwalk in Rummelsburg to listen to the sounds there.“ (Text by Peter Cusack)

On Berlin Sonic Places’ website are available the interviews made during the research process. Together with Eva Kietzmann and Petra Kübert Peter Cusack and Valeria Merlini developed the followig sound-walk map.

CHECK THE PROGRAM OF THE DAY HERE

[phonopolis]

RADIO SHOW [08.04.2012] framework radio

This week’s framework:afield has been coordinated and produced in Berlin and the UK by Felicity Ford and Valeria Merlini, and it features mixes and recordings made by participants in the ‘documenting sound’ workshop held at this year’s Audiograft festival in the UK. Featuring recordings and conversations, this show documents the festival while also reflecting on the practice of field-recording and sonic documentary creation.

Listen to the radio-show on framework radio

For further audio-documentation: www.sound-diaries.com

[phonopolis]

AUDIO PIECE [14.01.2012] Italian annual meeting Forum Klanglandschaft | Firenze - IT

For Paesaggi Sonori Valeria Merlini and Felicity Ford will present a shorter version of  the piece 10. July 2011 – third conference day recorded and produced at Tuned City Tallinn during the three days long workshop on audio documentation and production.

During this meeting it will be possible to listen to audio works by Mechi Cena, Enrico Coniglio, Mario D’Andreta, Felicity Ford, Luigi Guarnieri, Piero La rocca, Giovanni Lami, Massimo Liverani, Valeria Merlini, Francesco Michi, Simone Tecla. With the participation of Wind Ensamble: Stefano Bartolini, Marcello Bizzarri, Renato Cordovani, Edoardo Ricci.

For more detailed informations on the FKL meeting please check the program at this LINK

1st PART:: STEREO DIFFUSION

Valeria Merlini & Felicity Ford TUNED CITY TALLINN: third conference day (short version) || acousmatic

Simone Tecla JAZZTRON || live + acousmatic

Piero La rocca e Federico Savonitto SCIARAMANTICA || acousmatic (radio)

Francesco Michi e Mechi Cena SUONETTI || live

Enrico Coniglio e Giovanni Lami LEMURES || acousmatic

PART 2nd :: 3D E.S.T SOUND SYSTEM’S DIFFUSION (by Luigi Agostini)

Mario D’Andreta RUMORI …. E SOSPIRI || acousmatic RUMORI…. E SILENZI || acousmatic

Luigi Guarnieri with Wind Ensamble (Stefano Bartolini, Marcello Bizzarri, Renato Cordovani and Edoardo Ricci) ES 25 MU 2PD MASS || live + acousmatic EDA P.DY.S.1 || acousmatic

Massimo Liverani RILASSAMENTO 3D PSICOACUSTICO – LO SPAZIO

Live events and audio diffusions will close the day.

SUC – le Murate Piazza della Madonna della Neve – Firenze – IT Concerts start at 9 PM Free entrance

Organized by FORUM KLANGLANDSCHAFT with Arteco, Officine Croma, Luigi Agostini digital solutions.

[phonopolis]

FRAMEWORK RADIO - DOCUMENTATION AND PRODUCTION

WORKSHOP [04-10.07.2011] Tuned City Tallinn | Tallinn - EE

For Tuned City Tallinn 2011 Felicity Ford (UK) and Valeria Merlini (IT / DE) held the workshop ‘framework radio – documentation and production’ on behalf of framework radio, Patrick McGinley (US / EE).

The workshop had two goals: the production of a retrospective hour-long radio show to air as part of the framework:afield series of guest curated editions, and the production of a series of short on-the-spot creative documentary pieces to be presented to audiences at the beginning of each day of activities during the Tuned City festival. Participation included a daily gathering of recordings and/or interviews from the Tuned City events, and the editing of them into an audio highlight sequence to be presented the following day.

The original ‘sonic impressions from the festival’ can be heard here: http://www.tunedcity.net/?p=2994

The radio-show for framework:afield can be heard on framework radio: http://www.frameworkradio.net/

Thank you to all the workshop participants: Daniel Allen, Lewis Mcguffie, Kadi Pilt, and Kaisa Sammelselg.

[phonopolis]

SONIC GARDEN IN THE URBAN SPHERE

LECTURE [29.05.2010] Pre-event Tuned City 2011 | Tallinn - EE

SONIC GARDEN IN THE URBAN SPHERE

by Valeria Merlini

Sonic garden in the urban sphere explores how the aural aspect can be taken into consideration in order to plan landscape architecture. Its focus will be the conception and the realization of green areas in the urban environment, considering their specific sonotope. The lecture would like to give suggestions for an orchestration of the urban landscape, showing connections between the theories developed until now and a selection of projects realized in the field of  urban planning, landscape design and sound art.

The lecture was presented in the pre-event of Tuned City Tallinn 2011 on May 29th 2010 at Steamboat Icebreaker “SUUR TÕLL” and Seaplane Hangar

[phonopolis]

FOR ROOM TONE

SENSORIAL ARCHITECTURE MODEL [2009]

Commissioned architecture model by Brandon LaBelle for his project Room Tone. Brandon LaBelle: “I sent to architects three recordings of my apartment in Berlin. Trying to capture the space in sound, the recordings document the ambient, material and dimensional conditions of the apartment. The architects were then given the task of making a physical model of the apartment by having the sounds as their only directing information.”

Exhibited at Cut n Splice Festival in London on June 2009 and at General Public in Berlin on June 2011.