This autumn Modern Art Oxford presents a new work by the Berlin-based artist Susan Philipsz, entitled ‘You are not alone’, specially commissioned for the Radcliffe Observatory, Green Templeton College, Oxford. Built in the 18th century, the Radcliffe Observatory was modelled on the Tower of the Winds in Athens, a 1st century BC clock tower embellished with sundials and crowned with a weather vane.
Taking the original function of the building as her starting point, Philipsz has developed a new sound work that, with remarkable potency, engages with the uniqueness of this historical site.
In her work, Philipsz recalls Guglielmo Marconi’s suggestion that sounds, once generated, never die; they fade but continue to reverberate as sound waves across the universe. A pioneer of radio technology later used in radio telescopes, Marconi may have been driven by this thought to investigate the potential of wireless telegraphy; to literally tune into the universe. In her evocative new commission, Philipsz elicits something of the existential and philosophical concerns present in Marconi’s proposition and in the nature of the Observatory itself, as metaphorical frontier to the stars.
For the project, the artist has recorded radio interval signals (brief musical sequences typically played before or during breaks in radio transmission) sourced from around the world on vibraphone. Developed in the 1920’s and 30’s as musical signatures to identify particular radio stations, their use has declined with the advent of digital radio though not completely vanished. In a new departure for the artist, Philipsz will for the first time use radio transmission as the audio source for her work. Four distinct recordings are broadcast from separate FM transmitters on the rooftop of Modern Art Oxford to receivers, placed at the Observatory, which pick up the individual transmissions and relay them to visitors through four speakers on the inside. Adding a distinct sculptural device in her use of time and space and the physical journey of sound across the city of Oxford, visitors to the Observatory will experience a lament of sound, which is given a distant, ethereal and haunting quality by the use of the vibraphone.
Michael Stanley, Director of Modern Art Oxford said: “Susan Philipsz has developed one of the most distinctive and internationally celebrated practices in recent years. We are really excited by the possibilities that this special commission at the Radcliffe Observatory presents. Not only does it allow the artist the opportunity to work within a unique space, but it also allows rare public access to one of the most iconic historical landmarks in Oxford. This is one of our most ambitious off-site commissions to date and is very much indicative of the aspiration of our future programme in supporting artists’ response to this remarkable city.”
Green Templeton College Principal Dr Colin Bundy said: “Locating a thought-provoking contemporary art installation in the 18th century Observatory tower makes for an intriguing juxtaposition. The neo-classical Observatory stands at the heart of the College, and we are hugely excited to host Susan Phillipsz’ installation in the building. We believe it underlines Green Templeton’s distinctive identity – as Oxford’s newest graduate college, actively engaging with the outside world.”
This commission has been made possible through the generous collaboration and support of Green Templeton College and is the first in a series of three proposed commissions for the Radcliffe Observatory.
A publication documenting the project with an introduction by Michael Stanley and text by Jörg Heiser will be later available from Modern Art Oxford.
Open – 31 October – 3 December 2009
Modern Art Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP. Gallery opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm, Closed Mondays. Admission Free. For further details please visit www.modernartoxford.org.uk or call 01865 722733.
Image: The Radcliffe Observatory, Green Templeton College, Oxford Photograph by Mick Scott
