SoundFjord | Yann Novak | Stillness

Private view: 03 Aug 2010 | 7-9pm | RSVP!

SoundFjord are delighted to present the work of Yann Novak, who will inaugurate the exhibition program with his delicately observed and absorbing, autobiographical work. Stillness, is a two-part immersive sound installation with integral visual elements.

Complimentary to the exhibition will be a talk and question and answers session with the artist. We are also happy to announce that Yann will be available for conversation at the private view.

Stillness takes its inspiration from the two climates Yann Novak has inhabited: Subtropical in Los Angeles and Oceanic in Seattle. In these works he investigates these climates' almost static meteorological states and their emotional effect on their inhabitants.

Stillness takes form as two sound and video works presented as a large scale projection and 4.1 surround sound creating an immersive experience, each changing so slowly the effect is imperceptible to the audience, thus creating a nearly static state.

To create the sound piece, Novak made recordings of shortwave radio signal tuned to static in each location. Because radio waves are affected by both water vapor in the troposphere and ionization in the upper atmosphere due to the sun, each recording, though similar, contains an unique signature from the atmosphere the waves traveled through.

Similarly, the video elements are made up of numerous photographs, taken always pointed at the horizon, over a span of months in the case of Subtropical and years in Oceanic. These photographs capture a more literal portrait of these climates. All these elements are then digitally altered to create an ambiguous abstraction, leaving enough of the source to guide the experience and define the location, but abstract enough to create an immersive environment perfect for contemplation and personal reflection.

Stillness.Subtropical
August 4 - 28, 2010

Stillness.Oceanic
September 1 - 25, 2010

SoundFjord | London for contemporary sonic art and its research is a new gallery with research facilities, exhibition and intimate event space.

SoundFjord's core activities are to act as a hub for practitioners and researchers, to provide a research and collaboration network for practitioners, and to deliver an exhibition and event programme rich in research-based, investigative and experimental sonic art from UK -based and international artists.

Using private initiative and funding, SoundFjord was primarily instigated to address the lack of exhibiting space exclusively for works of Sound Art. Now the gallery not only organises exhibitions, but also documents all works for its Contemporary Sonic Art Archive (CSAA), assists with the development of artists within their practice, and ultimately, promotes and disseminates awareness of its innovative and thought provoking exhibitions and events to art lovers, practitioners, researchers, and to the general public at large. SoundFjord actively invites participation between artists and encourages combined activity through its events and collaborative projects.

SoundFjord mounts up to six exhibitions annually, with an emphasis on sound and audio arts. In order to encourage the widest possible access to and participation with and in its exhibition programme, SoundFjord provides information in a number of formats to assist those with specific sensory needs and does not charge an admission fee to visitors nor charge artist fee's for exhibition calls.