FOURM | ARCHISONICS “Sonifying Architecture”

FOURM | ARCHISONICS “Sonifying Architecture”

WHITE_LINE EDITIONS: 006.001

FOURM have recently sent a copy of their first collection of sound works and texts “Sonifying Architecture”, a limited edition CD/ Booklet published through fourm.wordpress.com. Having featured excerpts from the sound works and an introduction to the text at re-presentedgallery.com earlier this year I have been eagerly looking forward to seeing the completed first edition.

The booklet is 7”x 7”, soft backed and consists of 21 pages, most of which include high quality monochrome photographs. The CD has 6 tracks 4 of which are by Baz Nicholls. My initial response was how impressed I was with the quality of presentation of this publication, both in its layout and print quality. But enough of the praise, and onto the text and sound!

FOURM describe “ArchiSonics (as) quite simply a conflation of two words, Architecture, and Sonics, a dynamic, active space where two forms unite, intersect, and interact, a dualism which appears to float in and around each others’ gestural patterns. Buildings surround us, creating and unfolding a processional sonic scenario where sounds generate form, and form generates sound.”

The texts in the booklet by both Baz Nicholls and Andy Graydon describe in more detail, the concept of Archisonics. My first thought was of the contrast between the two different writing styles of Baz and Andy. Baz presents an analytical enquiry, considering how architecture can be articulated as sound, whilst Andy explores and describes Archisonics experientially. This approach follows through into the sound works where there is a clear delineation of approaches. These may be differing approaches, but they certainly do not create an opposition of ideas; more a creative alliance, requesting and frequently requiring their audience to consider relationships between the two styles in order to begin to understand the complexities of this project. I found myself on several occasions, imagining the conversations between Baz and Andy as they discussed these texts, exploring and adjusting their thoughts through the influences of each others’ ideas.

The quality and complexity of investigation set out in this publication in my opinion, makes “Sonifying Architecture” a must for practitioners, theorists, students and all who have an interest in Sonic Art and Architecture. There is a sense that as this project develops, it will expand and challenge the understanding of sonic art and its relationship to other disciplines. I hope that the initial limit of 200 copies will be far exceeded and also that the dialogue, discussion and debate that will be generated from this project can be presented in some public form. I would recommend that people go to http://fourm.wordpress.com/ and order a copy of this before they are sold out!