Here is the additional project content provided by the team after the meeting on 2.11.
References & Research:
A documentary about disused military installations called Cobra Mist which explores how these historic sites are recorded through sound, this documentary captures the ghostly sounds of disused military sites located in the UK. The subtle vibrations and changes in the buildings are amplified through the use of techniques such as contact microphones:
Reviewing archival videos of industrial machinery can provide inspiration for our project, helping us to incorporate visual and aural elements to recall the machinery and equipment that once powered paper mills:
akob Kierkegaard’s project 4 Rooms is a sound artwork that explores abandoned spaces and captures the unique soundscapes of these spaces. Focusing on industrial decline and the layered memories of these spaces, especially abandoned environments like the town of Pripyat in Chernobyl, the project can provide inspiration on how to represent the sound of industrial spaces reflecting their past and present decline:
https://jacobkirkegaardreleases.bandcamp.com/album/4-rooms
Kraftwerk is known for its mechanised electronic music, which can draw on Kraftwerk’s electronic noises, synthesizer low-frequency resonances, and repetitive rhythms to simulate the roar of machines and operational rhythms of an industrial environment, giving the sound design a more industrial feel. The theme of Kraftwerk – Radioactivity deals with the effects of technology, time, and radiation pollution. Kraftwerk – Radioactivity This song deals with the effects of technology, time and radiation pollution and expresses a futuristic approach:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg4RctdI35I
Project name: The Fractured Boundaries
Concept description:
The project explores the dissolution and reconstruction of time and memory in space by focusing on how ‘place’ is transformed from a clear material existence to a vague ‘non-place’ after the intervention of algorithms. Through the medium of sound, the project captures the soundscape of real space and uses algorithms to deconstruct and reorganise it, presenting the dissolution and regeneration of place in the auditory dimension. At the same time, the project will use the paper mill as the background and the history of the industrial space to present the intertwining of memory, time and space, challenging the definition of the boundaries of ‘place’ and ‘non-place’, exploring how time leaves its traces in industrial sites, and how these changes are experienced by the audience through sound and interaction. It explores how time has left traces on industrial sites and how the audience can experience these changes through sound and interaction.
Project Research Implications:
- Industrial space as a carrier of time and memory:
As one of the historically important industrial spaces, the paper mill carries a great change from prosperity to abandonment. By using the sound of the paper mill as the core medium of the project, we are able to present the flow of time and the change of memory. Through the gradual distortion and reconstruction of sound, the project symbolises the disappearance and regeneration of local memory. Elements such as the sound of factory machines and workers’ conversations in the past are gradually deconstructed and reorganised in the space through algorithms, allowing the audience to experience how industrial spaces and memories are gradually disintegrated and reconstructed under the effect of time.
2.The interweaving of time and space:
The historical change of the paper mill from busy production to gradual abandonment reflects the passage of time and the change of space. In the project, we will present this change through different sound layers and algorithmic interventions, and the audience will perceive the transformation from a vibrant factory to a derelict space to a factory space that may be resurrected in the future through the dynamics of sound. This narrative structure from past to present to future will help the audience to understand how time shapes spatial perception, and at the same time feel the close relationship between place and memory.
- Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Memory:
Through the algorithmic intervention of sound and the interaction with space, the project is not only a review of past memories, but also an exploration of how memories become blurred and fragmented with the passage of time. The loss and reconstruction of memory becomes an important theme in the historical context of the paper mill. The audience through interactive experience will gradually reveal the sounds of the factory’s past (e.g. the roar of the machines, the sounds of the workers’ labour, etc.), which will become fragmented with the intervention of the algorithm, and ultimately reconstructed into an abstract soundscape in the space, symbolising the regeneration of memory and the washing away of time.
- The profound impact of industrialisation on space and memory:
As an important symbol of industrialisation, the paper mill’s spatial and structural changes reflect the profound impact of industrialisation on human society. The project demonstrates the impact of industrialisation on human memory and spatial perception through dynamic changes in sound and space. For example, the roar of factory machines may be delayed, distorted or overlapped with other sound layers, simulating how memory is gradually distorted by the process of industrialisation. This distortion and reconstruction of sound allows the viewer not only to hear memories of the past, but also to feel how technology affects people’s understanding of time and space.
Narrative Structure:
Complete Local Soundscape: In this phase, the audience will experience the full environmental sound of the factory, creating a stable sense of “place.” Through high-fidelity recordings and surround sound technology, the audience will hear the mechanical roar of machines, workers’ conversations, and machine operations from a real factory, showcasing the lively past of the factory and forming a true sense of place perception. Design Approach: Using on-site recordings and surround sound technology, the spatial acoustic characteristics of the factory are simulated, such as reverberation and sound source localization.
The Intrusion of Algorithms and Deconstruction of Sound: As algorithms intervene, the audience will experience the gradual fragmentation of sound. The familiar factory machine noises, workers’ conversations, etc., are sliced into different frequency layers or time segments by the algorithm. The sounds become distorted, stretched, or interwoven with other sound layers, creating a sense of deconstruction of space and collapse of time. Design Approach: Using Max/MSP or SuperCollider for real-time pitch-shifting, delay, inversion, and other operations, introducing low-frequency noise or high-frequency piercing sounds to create auditory tension.
Generation of Multiple Boundaries: Sound layers gradually split, forming a multi-dimensional spatial experience. As the audience moves, they will perceive different layers of sound, each representing a different dimension of place in time and space. Design Approach: Using Ambisonics technology or a multi-channel system to dynamically generate sounds distributed in space, using algorithms to create unique rhythms and spectra, emphasizing auditory diversity and layering.
The Deconstruction and Reconstruction of the Non-Place: Eventually, all sounds will gradually dissolve into white noise, distorted effects, and silent fragments, representing the deconstruction of the “non-place.” Under the influence of algorithms, these residual sound fragments will reassemble into an abstract soundscape, expressing the dissipation and reconstruction of time and memory. Design Approach: Reconstructing the residual sound fragments through frequency modulation, particle delay, and fading effects, creating an emotional sense of rupture, and using sudden silence to express the disappearance of memory.
Interactive Design:
Devices and System Architecture: Devices: Surround speaker arrays and low-frequency transducers (for tactile feedback), touch interface (e.g., touchscreen or sensors) for audience interaction. Interactive Design: The audience can influence the distribution, speed, and modulation frequency of sound fragments through movement or the touch interface. Each interaction triggers a new combination of sounds, making the experience unique.
Visual Aids: Content: Add point cloud animations synchronized with the sound, showcasing the dynamic changes in the sound field, reflecting the process of the factory going from lively to abandoned, and possibly reborn. Technology: Using TouchDesigner or Blender to transform sound into visual effects in real-time, enhancing the synchronization between sound and visuals.
Summary:
This project, through the combination of sound and algorithms, closely links the industrial space (particularly a paper mill) with time and memory. Through ever-changing sound layers, algorithmic intervention, and audience interaction, it presents the transformation of industrial spaces over time and the deconstruction and reconstruction of memory. In the end, the audience will not only experience how sound shapes spatial perception but also deeply feel how industrial spaces carry and witness the flow of memory and time.
