Ears Project

Installation for public space

The installation is based on sound detection and monitoring devices which were developed in the 1920’s by military forces in European countries. Objects of unusual shape and size caused sound amplification of otherwise inaudible sound due to the elementary physical laws of sound dispersion.

At the same time when these devices were being developed a radar research was launched as well. Almost immediately after the completion of their development, right after they were about to be used, they turned out to be obsolete because of radar’s more convenient features.

Installation Ears concerns variety of issues; military and public, historical and contemporary. More importantly, it deals with the issues of purpose and the rapid shift form purposefulness towards purposelessness. We can see this process hapenning even today as we are witnesses of the fast aging process of various tools of information technologies.

We don’t consider the project as a mere reconstruction of a certain type of device or just a use of ready-made. We are trying to point out a specific strategy of “taking care” of the past via a shift of meaning and function of an object which was originally designed for military purposes.

Last but not least, we would like to work with the placement of an acoustic mirror and thus handle also the sound aspect of the installation. Amplification of the sounds of that particular space creates specific relations between the object and its surroundings.

Realization team :

Pavel Sterec

Aleš Čermák

Jan Trejbal