SalfordOnline
Your local community website
Video: Public art on Salford Quays - Aeolus
by Tom Rodgers
Public art is in rude health on Salford Quays at the moment. Luke Jerram's wind pavillion - Aeolus - is in residence at MediaCityUK until 4th December. The sculpture has been created along the same lines as an Aeolian harp - a stringed musical instrument which does not need to be plucked to create sound. Consultant on the project and Salford University lecturer Dr Ian Drumm kindly agreed to explain to SalfordOnline's non-scientists how it actually works. At MediaCityUK, wind passes over the strings which tether Aeolus to the ground. The strings then resonate, and the vibrations pass through the circular tubes to 'sing' in the breeze. Standing in the middle of the stunning archway, visitors can hear anything from a low hum to a range of musical notes. Visitors will also hear a strange 'echo', because of the way the arch focuses sound to a central point. The artist Luke Jerram conceived the technique whilst in Iran studying the geometry and acoustic properties of mosques. Interestingly enough, when the breeze is light, Aeolus is at its best, explains Dr Drumm. "It's quite ironic really, for a wind sculpture you would expect blustery days to be the best, but it's not, because of the way that resonance works. For example, if your rub your finger gently around a wine glass it builds up resonance, which is amplified and you can hear it. If you do it quickly, it doesn't work as well." But whilst this technically complex sculpture is a huge achievement for its creators - Luke Jerram and researchers from Southampton and Salford universities - Aeolus also performs a different function; to highligh acoustics as a research field. The two universities who came together to work on Aeolus are 6-star rated institutions, ranked among the best in the world. If you want to go and see this strange and beautiful artwork, you've only got another week before the sculpture is moved along to continue its tour of the UK. For our next film on public art on Salford Quays, we'll be looking at KMA's "democratic public art", Unsung Heroes, which (weather permitting) will be on show at the Imperial War Museum North from today until 4th December, moving to the MediaCityUK piazza from 7th - 15th December, finishing at the Lowry Plaza 18th - 22nd December. Additional photographs by Alan Andrew. Music copyright of John Pazden/flatwound via ccmixter.org
Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
