Lot 618 R

From the 1960s Harry Bertoia's oeuvre included a large group of sound sculptures, developed from a life long affinity for music. In the 1970s the artist and his son concentrated particularly on these sculptures and coined the term 'Sonambient' for them. The sculptures are composed of vertical metal rods of various form, height and thickness, which are arranged in parallel rows or bunched together; occassionally gongs or hanging chimes were also used. By airflow or touch the metal rods start vibrating creating organic-like tones which reverberate and merge. In this respect the works always address the tactile sense of the viewer, they are created to be made to sound. In elaborate experiments Bertoia ascertained the sound qualities of various metals and alloys which he used to create different acoustic results. Every sculpture therefore has its own sound picture. The tones, which have in their pecularity and originality little to do with the sound of traditional music instruments, were developed further by Bertoia into proper compositions. These are closely related to the avant-garde music of the 1920s and were partly recorded by the artist on tape.