Supersonic experience

Recently I went to see the Sonic Bed. The bed is described by the artist, who created it, Kaffe Matthews as an “instrument in the collaborative research project, music for bodies”. It’s a successor to her Sonic Chair and consists of a king size bed (maybe tank is a better description), which has a number of speakers around it. These are connected to a computer program that generates sounds and vibrations. Visitors are invited to lay down and experience the various vibrations and noises that surround them.

When Interactive architecture interactivearchitecture reviewed it they wrote “when installation visitors lie down on it, an endless loop of sounds washes over them. Due to their frequency and intensity, these sounds are perceived not only with the ears but also with the entire body in what is a very pleasant experience”. So I thought I ought to have a bash at the Sonic Bed!

Removing my shoes, I carefully ascended the steps and lay down in the centre, with my head on the cushions (not pillows!) and let the sounds envelope me. I lay there for about ten minutes experiencing the sensations and sounds. It was quite pleasant, with all the various abstract sounds, going from deep booms light shaking noises. The sounds are generated via some kind of loop on a computer – Kaffe kindly showed me this afterwards. She was able to change the sequences and range of noises – I expect Kaffe would call it music. I’m not so sure.

Kaffe Matthews has been making and performing new music with digital equipment for over ten years. These kinds of experimental music and sound installations were pioneered by artists such as Alvin Lucier, Robert Ashley and Gordon Mumma. Kaffe’s background includes playing the violin, drumming and she has a Masters in music technology. She has performed with her equipment on stage, in galleries and clubs throughout the world. She has also collaborated with a number of other international artists with the hernoise project whose practice, as they put it, “shares the use of sound as a medium to investigate social relations, inspire action or uncover hidden soundscapes”. Kaffe has produced a number of collaborative versions of the bed in different countries with one due next year in New York

The Sonic Bed is on display in the middle of Shoreditch, in the Bethnal Green Road. It’s in a new purpose built arts centre called Richmix. It’s in a curious setting. The area has been poor but in recent years, with it being near the City and increasing property values, it’s come up in the world. So the centre is situated amongst a mix of light industry and social housing plus up-market flats and new technology studios. Locals seem to wander past, looking in at the windows in a rather bemused way. Maybe when it’s more established it’ll be more popular.

It was quite an enjoyable experience, but frankly, not one I’d go out of my way to repeat it. The design of the bed itself looks rather old fashion. It’s made of cherry and wouldn’t look out of place in Heal’s furniture department. I would have thought something a bit more techie would be more appropriate and reflect the avant-garde nature of the installation. As for the music ¬– it’s novel, and unusual. But as there’s no melody or progression, I found it borring after about ten minutes. If you want to try it for yourself its on display at Rich Mix till 23 December 2006.