The SOUND DISK MACHINE is a photoelectronic, analog instrument that converts light into sound. It can be played using any kind of light source, even non-visible light, such as infrared light, can be made audible with this instrument. It consists of disks with distinct hole pattern, phototransistor circuits, modified 12V DC computer fans, analog filters, 6V miniature lamps, led lamps and self-made controller boxes for the motors and the lamps. The disks are screwed onto the computer fans and the instrument's sonic outcome depends on the fans' speed of rotation, the disks' distinct hole patterns, the respective light sources and the light's angle of entry. With the current version 5 disks can be played at a time.

The SOUND DISK MACHINE was commissioned by the Finnish artists´ association MUU ry and was premiered in October 2014 at the International Performance Art Festival Amorph!14 in Helsinki.

This art project is inspired by Evgeny Sholpo's "Variophone" instrument and has been realized with the kind support of MUU ry, ZKM Karlsruhe and Janne Virkkunen.

Performances

2019 Quadrophonia #4.0 - Neues Museum Nürnberg (DE)
2018 Lofoten Sound Art Symposium, Henningsvær (N0)
2016 Pori Art Museum (FI)
2016 Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki (FI)
2015 Fylkingen, Stockholm (SE)
2015 Sound & Sight Festival, Montréal (CA)
2015 Red Room, Baltimore (US)
2015 The Living Gallery, NYC (US)
2015 Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Washington DC (US)
2015 AS220, Providence (US)
2015 Washington Street Arts, Boston (US)
2015 bgalleria, Turku (FI)
2015 MIIMstuudio, Tallinn (EE)
2015 Vapaan taiteen tila, Helsinki (FI)
2015 Minimalism Unbounded! The Fifth International Conference on Minimalist Music, Helsinki (FI)
2015 Planet Suvilahti, Helsinki (FI)
2015 Sound Art Day, Helsinki (FI)
2014 third space, Helsinki (FI)
2014 International Performance Festival Amorph!14, Helsinki (FI)