Sound Wave Sculpture is an experiment with 'parabolic flight.' The parabolic flight means a flight which make use of the free falling for micro-gravity environments. On the descent of a parabolic flight, people and objects inside the plane experience weightlessness.

Since sound waves create air vibrations, micro particles in the cylindrical container can be 'sculpted' by using different music to generate different shapes and motions. Only light objects react to sounds in a 1G environment, under normal gravity on the earth, but we noticed that the effects differed in micro-gravity environment. Heavy objects can be moved by weightlessness. This was a basic experiment for new expression.

The purpose of the Sound Wave Sculpture experiment is to inspire human evolution through a cultural engagement with the experience of space. The role of art is to stimulate the imagination and enhance the sensitivity of humans. In the near future, it will be important for people who make a long-stay in the space. And the overview effect that humans experience in orbit will become available to us all. So, we pursued the possibility of arts in space and proposed new expressions realized by weightlessness.

Method of the Experiment:

We put spherical styrene foam (2mm diameter) into a cylinder, on which a speaker was attached to the side, and we investigated the relationship between the formations of particles and the frequency of sinusoidal sound waves. Music composed by sinusoidal waves generated beautiful reactions in the cylinder.

In addition, it was hard to look the reaction by sound wave although metal complications, rice, smoke, powdered silver vinyl, etc. were tried.

Results of Experiment with Micro-gravity Environments

In micro-gravity environment, high frequency sound made an obvious reaction, which looked like living things in water.

Sound Wave Sculpture

«In 2001, with several people I proposed a 'space art project' to the National Space Development Agency of Japan as a 'feasibility study' for the space resources like Internationl Space Station. Through interviews with seven Japanese astronauts, I felt the space art would be specialized by the essential of the art. Art sends a strong message to renewal lifestyles and an outlook on the world. Astronauts expect the art as medicine for mental stability. And, all of them talked about the beauty of the earth and the earth's precious existence. They said, the communication between space and the earth is important. I think the theme of Space Art is 'communication between humans, the earth and space' and 'the unification of humans, the earth and space' and 'Signal from the Sea.' From the sea which abounds with life, we send signals of light and sound to people in Internationl Space Station and to the life beyond the space. Astronauts say that they can see, from space 300kms up, the electric light of fishing boats for squids working in the sea of Japan. By making the lights of all of these boats flashed, they will be light signals which are perceptible with the naked eye. These images will be sent back to the earth, then we will see our existence from the space and send them to out into space.» ~ Ayako Ono.

A Cosmic Wind Chime 'Cosmic Sound Sculpture'
Wind chime in a gravity-free state amuse us with the sounds of Japanese chimes made by parts of musical instruments, hitting each other.

Ayako Ono, Somewhere, mp3

The Great Flier.
Flying performance by flying objects invented in pursuit of mankind's dream of flight.

Ayako Ono, WarmStars, mp3

source: geocities.jp