Images Festival - Tactical Uses of a Belief in the Unseen (2)
Above is our walk-through video of exhibit, Tactical Uses of a Belief in the Unseen (2) by Deborah Stratman at the Images Festival. Why so jiggly? The exhibit takes its inspiration from the use of sound as a tool of war and social control. The notes for the installation, written by artist and filmmaker Lucy Raven, discuss historical examples of sonic warfare, originally used to disperse crowds and terrorize enemy fighters at night, akin to the use of sonic booms from low-flying fighter jets as a psychological weapon in the Gaza Strip.
With a low-buss vibration emitting from below, the piece is experienced differently depending on how many people you have in your posse.
We went there on its opening night and were told that early-comers visited and left really quickly, as the sounds and vibrations induced a form of tension and stress. However, as the night progressed, more people began sitting on its sloped panels, effectively changing the nature of the exhibit into a surprisingly calming, social space.
Essentially a room made into a giant amp, Deborah and her team are planning to host bands in the exhibit, which is brilliant.
