Dark Matter – the only good system
Andreas Ullrich, Nani Cooper, Patrick Loos
Immersive sound installation / Sept 3–10, 2022
The installation was first presented in 2020 at Ars Electronica in Linz at the Stadtwerkstatt as part of the More vs Less program. In 2022, this installation is set to be further developed in the ZiMMT Lab and expanded with a 3D audio projection.
The dark room is only illuminated by a faint LED spotlight shining on a triangle hanging at head height in the center of the room. A contact microphone is attached to the triangle.
The room is filled ankle-deep with water, held in place by a pond liner installation. To reach the triangle, visitors must walk barefoot through the water for several meters. They can then strike the hanging triangle with a mallet.
In the dark area of the room, a sound system has been installed, which we have developed ourselves for high-definition sound applications. In this musical field, the reproduction of very deep, high-resolution bass frequencies is crucial. The system has a maximum power output of 18 kW.
Thanks to a special construction using massive beechwood radial horns, it can produce an extremely linear frequency response from approximately 38 to 22,000 Hz.
When the triangle is struck with the mallet, its high tone can be heard directly. However, this sound is also picked up by the contact microphone and modulated through a Doepfer A100 DIY analog synthesizer system. This results in a very deep sine bass that lingers in the room for a long time. Corresponding overtones are synthesized alongside this bass frequency, which also decay slowly.
The bass waves not only affect the human body but also modulate the surface of the water, causing ripples in the light of the LED spotlight.
A key aspect of this installation is the moment of overcoming—the visitor’s decision whether to discover what happens when they take control of the action. This requires dedication and curiosity, at least the willingness to remove shoes and socks. When the visitor uses the installation, they are confronted with a very loud resonant result of their action—the striking of the triangle—which is meant to be physically felt.
This installation is, of course, an allegory of practiced self-empowerment. The title “The only good system” refers to the popular phrase “The only good system is a soundsystem.”
Systems of initiation and resonance, as well as political communication, self-empowerment, courage to explore, and the desire to discover, are some keywords for possible layers of reception—though a clear interpretation is not necessary.