Spatial Balance is basically two 2 x 1 meter steel plates fitted with sonic transducers on the back and a microprocessor which measures the distance to the closest human in front of it and translates this distance to a frequency.

From an audio or music studio perspective Spatial Balance is two plate reverbs without a return channel.

From a digital perspective Spatial Balance is mapping distance in centimeters on a frequency range and applying randomises values to control audio aspects like volume, attack, decay, sustain, release and tremolo as well as applying special frequencies to pre destined places.

From a painting perspective Spatial balance represents, as do most of my works, the experience of time trough themes like repetition, searching, movement and meditation. With acrylic paint two minimalistic repeating shapes are painted on the two plates. The back layer is a free hand painted gradient of colours, the top layers is a geometric composition of lines with two center points. The contrasting colours, the gradients and the open composition make the eye of the beholder constantly shift. Searching for a central focus point.

The installation itself is an interactive work which reacts on the place of the vistor(s) within the space. Once the visitors discovers it is them who control the sound they can start playing the sonic space. They will discover that the frequencies of the installation vary depending on their position in the space and they wil notice after a while that sweet spots are programmed in the installations performance. Hence the title of the installation: Spatial Balance. For there are spots in which the plates reverberate a very low soft rumble. A place where the vistor has found the spatial balance. But it is a delicate spot and it can be lost by moving as much as a centimeter. The purpose of the work therefor is not to find the equilibrium, but to search for it.

Spatial balance is a guided meditation in which the visitors own movements guide them trough the space exploring visual, sonic and mental stimuli.

Spatial  Balance Recorded Movement 1

North Sea

Mirrors

A live recording of a synth improvisation I did during the opening of the exhibition "Residu 4" at Kunsthal 45 in Den Helder, the Netherlands on 14-10-2018.

Bob Waardenburg

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