MikroTONAL Project

2016
Sound installation; porcelain, wood
technique; mold casting

The assumption of my project was to create an instrument referring to the original ones. As they were made of wood, clay, stone or animal bones, it was for me a base in the search for form. Ethnic instruments are usually simple but extremely effective constructions from natural materials. Formerly used by people for ceremonial purposes, today – more as an attempt to return to the music of sources. The first installation is used to extract selective, individual sounds, the interaction between individual elements occurs, but quite rarely. The second installation is constructed in such a way that the ceramic elements intertwine with the wooden ones and the contact between them is denser, which causes more sounds, not accurately specified in depending on the strength of the impact. will automatically complement the previous one, each time it will be a different formula.

Water drums

2018
ceramic instruments; porcelit
technique; mold casting

A set of three water drums, designed so that the differences in dimensions correspond proportionally to the distance between sounds. Each drum consists of an outer and an inner part. The outer bowl contains water and a half-sphere that is turned upside down. On the sides there are three holes, with strings, holding the bowl in place. Drums are tuned in, letting the air under the inner bowl. They are played with a medium hard stick, which gives a bass, deep sound.

Pentafon

porcelain, wood
technique; mold casting

Pentafon is a pentatonic tuned, playing installation, consisting of porcelain, animal legs laid out on the frame, which has been designed so that its angle of inclination allows the musician to play precisely. Below are the forms of bull horns, which are the sound system for the extracted sounds. Ceramic molds have been selected in terms of length, shape and thickness of the cast so that they give different sound values. The castings have holes that allow for proper suspension (the place where the hole is made is already a determining factor in the quality of the sound and sound that will be created). The longer and thicker the elements, the lower their tone. The instrument is played with sticks made of hard rubber.

Sitar

2018
Traditional Indian instrument, ceramic elements
technique; ceramics elements are casting by mold

Traditionally, this instrument has a main soundboard, from 18 to 21 strings, in two rows, including 6 of them are burdon strings, which are not directly hit, and they resonate with the external ones. The traditional sitar is played in a sitting position, holding it under 45 degrees. My idea was to stop being a classic instrument after adding ceramic elements and changing the way of playing. I designed a smaller soundboard that has a dual function here: it is designed to increase the volume of the instrument and help to keep it lying down. It was made of porcelite, and its shape refers to the gourd, from which the main box of sitar is made. Sound extraction remains an individual matter, from playing with your fingers to the bow or other tools.

Neomenia Instrument

2022
porcelain, wood, brass
technique; mold casting

A sound installation consisting of porcelain casts. It was inspired by the pure, crystalline sound that can be extracted from just this material. Each piece differs from one another in length, thickness and place of suspension, allowing for varying tonality. Neomenia in Latin means new moon.
The installation was designed as part of the instrumentarium of the project “Communing with sound as a mystical practice”.