Voices from the Void, an interactive sound installation at The Glasshouse Gallery, invites connection and collaboration

‘VOICES from the Void’, an interactive sound installation, opened at the Glasshouse Gallery in Port Macquarie on Saturday 25 July.

This installation features nine drums, displayed as wall-hanging objects that, when approached, begin to vibrate and produce a sine wave.

Audiences are invited to connect, play and collaborate through sound and movement.

Melbourne based artist Daniel O’Toole’s core practice is large-format colour field painting, minimal abstraction, working with natural phenomena, and visual and auditory perception synesthesia as reference points.

“This work is very different to that,” said Daniel.

“I am also a musician and an audio engineer, recording and producing music, working with other artists and running events.

“I have been involved in music production and sound for as long as I have made art.”

Daniel produced a local album three years ago at Birdwood at a residency at Outer Magnolia Studio, owned by local artists Jo Davidson and Stephen Killick, whose cabin was built for artists to create work.

“Bringing sound into my art exhibitions was something I always wanted to do as they are equal loves of mine.”

The drum skins are painted black and act as a void, drawing focus to the sound which is being projected.

The gallery space is theatre-like, a stark white cube with black curtains, rethinking the gallery expectation and turning it into a playable instrument.

“Children love this work – they can play with space and gesture with their body,” said Daniel.

“It invites a lot of unexpected interaction – including musicians who bring their instruments and improvise with the sound.”

This work offers audiences a chance to play, or to engage at a deeper, more technical level.

‘Voices from the Void’ is well worth visiting and the exhibition continues until Sunday 4 October.

By Pauline CAIN