Musica Universalis
Houston/Hobart/Barcelona/London 2016 - 2023
Steel, Acrylic, LED, Electronics, Code . Dimensions variable
Musica Universalis continues United Visual Artists’ explorations of time, space, light and sound.
During the 1st century BC, mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras discovered a series of relationships between geometry and harmonics. He identified that the pitch of a musical note is in proportion to the length of the string that produces it, and that intervals between harmonious sound frequencies form simple numerical ratios. Pythagoras coined the term ‘musica universalis’ to describe his assertion that the movements of all celestial bodies in the sky were guided by strict harmonious equations, physically imperceptible to the human ear.
Musica Universalis is a spatial instrument that imagines the resonances from far away objects in our solar system. It comprises a series of kinetic, physical sculptures, each containing a spherical form and a mechanism driving a rotating light source and speaker. Light is cast through the space creating interventions and interactions with the architecture. Oscillations slowly drift in and out of harmony within each cell and across the series. Over time, white light shifts into its component frequencies of colour.
Musica Universalis debuted at the Day for Night Festival in Houston, Texas in December 2016 and during the course of the weekend was visited by over 5000 people. It was exhibited at Espacio Simon, as part of Llum BCN 2020.
Sound design by Ben Kreukniet
Film by Matt Watt
Images 1, 2, 3 & 4 by Jack Hems
