Colin Stetson |
Colin Stetson is a bass saxophonist who creates an astounding range of sounds from his instrument. He often performs solo and seeing and hearing him live is a mesmerising experience that isn't about spectacle or fancy lights but simply the layered textures and sounds he produces.
“Stetson demolishes clichés to unleash fresh, unexpected energies. It’s like being inside an enormous brass tunnel full of windy byways and slamming valves, at once exhilarating and frightening.” – Pitchfork For this project I want to create an intimate and ambient environment that doesn't detract from the performance. |
Inflation |
Ant Farm started experimenting with inflatable structures, opposing the hard and uncompromising forms of modernism, in the late 60's. Their Inflatocookbook acted as a guide for the realisation of inflatable architecture however inflatables remained to be largely a conceptual experiment that often wasn't realised until it experienced a resurgence at the turn of the century with projects such as OMA's Serpentine Pavilion. Anish Kapoor, Architects of Air and Diller Scofidio+Renfro have inflatable projects that have influenced me. (See images below)
I decided to work with inflatables for similar reasons to why designers started to experiment with it in the 60's: -to break away from the rigid rectangular shape used in most stages. -to break away from the traditional function of a stage. Rather then separate the performer from the audience I want to create an intimate environment in which the audience is invited into the performer's space. -because it is cheap, light weight and easy to transport and assemble. Inflation also reflects on what is central to Stetson's sound, air flow and breath. Natural light pours in through the skin of the inflated surface which vibrates to the frequencies of Stetson's horn, creating a surreal and engaging sonic, kinetic and visual experience for the audience. |
Finding Form |
The form of my design is inspired by Daniel Palacios' visualisation of waves:
Colin Stetson uses many extended techniques in his playing such as overtones and I wanted my design to reflect this. The third harmonic is the basis for the structure of the form:
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Grasshopper |
Kangaroo is a physics engine plugin for Grasshopper that can be used to inflate meshes. Here are two scripts for inflation in Grasshopper; one for a hollow mesh and one for a flat mesh. I ended up using the second script for my design. Two meshes are joined together by the anchor points and the kangaroo pressure force pushes the top mesh upward and the bottom mesh downward.
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