Frequency Sculptures

On November 11, 2022, I had the opportunity to be part of the symposium for the exhibition "Extended Worlds – Urban Media Art in Marl" titled "Speculative Worlds, Extended Realities." In the foyer of the SANAA building, I exhibited my MR installation "Frequency Sculptures" alongside Prof. Stefan Neudecker and gave a short talk on the project. Following the exhibition, an exhibition catalog was released.

A frequency transformed into a 3D form and placed in space defines what I consider a (digital) frequency sculpture. Using Mixed Reality headsets (HoloLens 2), these three-dimensional objects appear weightlessly suspended in space, offering a unique experience. But how does something as intangible as frequency take on form? The answer lies in the behavior of certain materials capable of visualizing sound waves through cymatics. I chose "Oobleck," a non-Newtonian fluid composed of water and cornstarch, which changes viscosity under force. When exposed to deep, intense frequencies, Oobleck solidifies, reacting dynamically to the sound waves transmitted through a speaker membrane. Capturing these ephemeral shapes as three-dimensional snapshots became central to my work. The Frequency Sculptures, ranging from 5 Hz to 50 Hz, with their vibrant pink and red shapes, contrast sharply against the gray concrete, glow in the green of parks, and stand out in the urban landscape. They pave the way for heightened sensitivity to the acoustic and auditory spaces we navigate daily.

"Extended Worlds" (Erweiterte Welten) is a collaborative project by Anastasija Delidova and Philip Popien of the Essen-based media art duo Kollektiv 42, Robin Römer, and programmers from cityscaper GmbH in Aachen, in cooperation with the Skulpturenmuseum Marl.