david letellier: versus a kinetic sound sculpture

‘versus’ by david letellier, 2011 sound installation 200 cm x 110 cm x 220 cm all images © the artist

french-born and berlin-based artist david letellier has developed a kinetic sound sculpture entitled ‘versus’. the piece consists of two fan-like components placed on two walls facing one another within a small gallery space. both units are built from twelve triangular, hinged panels arranged in a circle around a loudspeaker and microphone, powered by six linear actuators moved by a digitized system. ‘versus’ works in the way that one piece emits a small sound to which the other simultaneously records and analyzes this noise, then spinning and shifting according to the frequency of the initial tone. the second sculpture now plays back the recorded sound including any errors from disturbances of sound observed in the space by the influence of visitors. the altered sound continues to play back and forth between the two pieces, building upon the tone just before. the communication occurring between the sculptures becomes a degraded entity, adding to depth and complexity to the work then superseding the power of the basic form of the structure, now existing as a mutating, independently forming piece within the gallery space.

‘versus’ is on display in the ‘visualizar el sonido’ exhibition at laboral centro de arte y creacion industrial in gijon, spain until june 25th, 2012.

‘versus’ by david letellier

each sculpture is comprised of twelve triangular panels

a close perspective of the speaker-formed center of the fan-like component

a visualization of the piece’s side

‘versus’ in a moment of rapid response

close-up and side perspective of the piece

closer and front perspective of one component in a moment of rest