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Carsten Nicolai «∞» | ∞ Part 1
Carsten Nicolai, «∞», 1997 – 1998
∞ Part 1 | ©
Aside from the documenta catalog, an event and an installation demonstrated that this functionless sign and the equally mysterious sounds were connected: on opening night, June 21, 1997, loudspeakers built into a stage played all 72 sounds. The site is the central, unused empty space of the asending and descending spiral of the department store parking garage directly beside the Fridericianum. Beginning from the sound material of the 'Spin', five musicians from the groups 'Ø', 'komet', and 'byetone' develop a live performance on this stage. A large sun-sail floating above everything bears this sign, which is also found throughout the city. Afterward, the stage and sail remain as the installation 'stage', where the 72 sounds can be heard for the remaining 100 days of the documenta exhibition.


 
Carsten Nicolai «∞»Carsten Nicolai «∞»Carsten Nicolai «∞»Carsten Nicolai «∞» | ∞ Part ICarsten Nicolai «∞» | ∞ Part 1Carsten Nicolai «∞» | ∞ Part 2: Labor eCarsten Nicolai «∞» | ∞ Part 3: Construction Set noto ∞Carsten Nicolai «∞» | ∞ Part 4: construction set.noto infinity

Categories: Sound

Keywords: Music | Pop

Source text:

Nicolai, Carsten ««I want to stay in the core of the sound, as it were.»»

Relevant passages:

icon: authorTjark Ihmels icon: authorJulia Riedel «The Methodology of Generative Art»

Works by Carsten Nicolai:

aka noto, crystals/reworked| Snownoise


Kassel | Germany
 

 Carsten Nicolai
«∞»

In 1997-98, under the sign ∞ (‹infinity›), Carsten Nicloai developed a series of works in various media and on various sites. The use of recurring modules makes them a single project. The basic elements are an amorphous sign that Nicolai christened the 'snowman syndrome' and 72 sounds, 45-second loops he calls ‹Spins›. The quiet, repeating sounds recall fire engine sirens, whale song, bird chirping, or African drumming. But all are tones distorted and processed from everyday devices such as radio, fax machines, telephones, modems, or human speech. The sound waste of our means of communication, multiply overlaid and mixed, becomes a minimal music sound track.