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Atmospheric Modulations Kinetic Sculpture Synthesis

Blade Grass Barometer, 2024

A barometric pressure sensor weighs the atmosphere. A micro-controller and a digital to analogue converter (DAC) produce a variable voltage that corresponds to pressure changes. This control voltage (CV) is connected to a synthesizer and a servo motor. In the synthesizer barometric pressure, voltage, and pitch, rise and fall together. Several blades of grass have…

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Atmospheric Modulations Kinetic Sculpture Synthesis Writing

Expanded Synthesis at Sydenham International, 2023

What is synthesis? A synthesizer produces control voltages (CV) and audible oscillations in electronic circuits. Its sounds are made of electricity. Unlike the amplification of vibrating strings, the synthesizer is a wholly electronic instrument. CVs can include audio frequency oscillations but are more often lower frequency signals or triggered voltage events. The modular synthesizer uses…

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Kinetic Sculpture Machines and Synthesis Synthesis Writing

Treatment (Fleming Street) 2022 – Mike Nelson – Art, Contemplation, Mysticism

Treatment (Fleming Street), marks a shift in my practice. This work was created for the 2022 Cementa Festival. It was the first Expanded Synthesis installation. The first work that I’ve made specifically for a space that is not a gallery. The first time that I’ve shown work that comes from applying the knowledge that I’ve…

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Kinetic Sculpture Synthesis Writing

Expanded Synthesis – Biology and Synthesizers

When I first described this project with synthesizers, I gave it the title ‘Synthesis’. I now realise that was a placeholder. There was a word missing. ‘Expanded Synthesis’ has the benefit of being more descriptive, more philosophical, and more poetic. My work with synthesizers is about expanding the functioning of synth modules. I am expanding…