Electrifying Art: 12 Stunning Applications of Static Electricity in Creative Works

11. The Static Sound Garden: An Auditory Adventure in Electricity

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With her installation "The Static Sound Garden," sound artist and composer Rachel Lee has produced a singular aural experience whereby a gallery space becomes an immersive soundscape driven totally by stationary electricity. Lee's installation consists of a range of especially created "sound sculptures," items of varying forms, sizes, and materials that emit noises when charged with stationary electricity. Their own stationary charge interacts with these sculptures as guests wander across the area to create a symphony of clicks, hums, and murmurs. Lee's work especially intrigues us since it questions our view of sound and its sources. The Static Sound Garden enables guests to pay close attention to the faint electrical sounds typically overlooked in our daily life. Lee has also included a learning component into the exhibit with interactive panels explaining the science underlying the sounds and motivating guests to try producing their own stationary-powered music. The Static Sound Garden is a quite interesting and provocative experience that shows the underlying musicality of the surroundings by combining art, science, and education.