Past Exhibitions
ShareBit Symphony is an audio-visual installation consisting of an assemblage of turntables, amplifiers and speakers, reconfigured and manipulated so as to autonomously perform a complex musical composition of looping records. Liam O’Callaghan creates the sound by forcing loops, changing speeds, warping and physically scratching records, fading volume in and out and altering tones. Through these simple techniques the original sound is altered to be unrecognisable from it’s source and transformed into something new entirely; a series of unique sonic/music compostions.
As is the case with most of O’Callaghan’s work, the aesthetic of Bit Symphony is lead by necessity. The function of each component of the installation is clear, and no attempt has been made to hide the basic methods and materials used to make the work operate the way O’Callaghan wants it to. With no auto tuner or auto timer in sight, the music cracks, clicks and creeks it way along with it’s own interior sense of purpose, in and out of time, through noise, sound and music and those moments inbetween, wherever they may lie. All the work’s blemishes are there to be heard and deployed as the players, independent of a performer, spin into action and work to find and maintain their own harmony.
O’Callaghan’s starting point was the desire to make music, and how, as an object-making artist and as a non musician, to achieve this aim. The resulting work borrows some of the musical vocabulary of early tape loops technics from the mid 60’,s and sampling technics of the 70’s onwards. While it is difficult to classify the compositions into any one type or genre of music, it is clear that O’Callaghan has achived his aim of making music while also creating a hypnotic and engaging art work.
Liam O’Callaghan’s work uses found, used and discarded objects to create sculptures that expose the methods or mechanics in their construction, challenging the viewer to construct meanings beyond their constituent parts. O’Callaghan’s sculptures and photographs delight the viewer with irreverence and humour, while also inducing meditations on the fragility and transience of life and the roll of improvisation in human endeavours. O’Callaghan has exhibited at, among other venues, The Irish Museum of Modern Art 2011; Dublin Contemporary 2011, the Douglas Hyde Gallery 2010; Rasche Ripken, Berlin 2009; Rubicon Gallery, Dublin 2008; the Royal Hibernian Academy, 2006
Preview
Preview and record launch: Thursday 15 December, 6 -8pm
Navigations Education Series
Binaural Microphone workshop
Saturday 21st January, 2pm Studios 6 and on the streets of Temple Bar.
This workshop, lead by artist and musician Sharon Phelan, will teach participants how to build their own Binaural Microphones that record 3D stereo sound, using an old pair of headphones. Sharon will then lead a sound walk in the surroundings of Temple Bar, and participants will get the opportunity to record the sounds of the cultural quarter on their home made microphones
Binaural recording is a method of recording sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a 3-Dstereo sound sensation for the listener of actually being in the room with the sounds, performers or instruments.
This workshop is FREE of charge and is aimed at young people aged 16 -21.
To book a place please contact
rayne@templebargallery.com
or phone 01 6710073
Places are strictly limited so please book to avoid disappointment.