405 prepared dc motors, cotton balls, cardboard boxes 46x46x46 cm
What does the tapping you hear in this space make you think about?
Artist Zimoun built this sound sculpture from ordinary cardboard boxes. Each box, taped by hand, is being struck by a cotton ball. Each ball is being swung by a small motor salvaged from a company that made window shades. All of the materials are recycled or locally sourced—and being reused after the exhibition. Spend some time with the hundreds of boxes in this room. Walk around. Close your eyes. How do these simple objects create something complex?
About the Artist
“There’s something beautiful about an industrial material like cardboard. It’s honest, pure. It’s not trying to be something else.” —Zimoun
Swiss artist Zimoun has noticed tiny sounds since he was young and fascinated by his grandmother’s creaky boiler. His sound architecture harnesses the noises of crumpled paper, inflating bags, falling styrofoam, and other things people often don’t pay much attention to.