Volute

In the "Volute" series —words, phrases, and songs—are rendered into turbulent clouds containing layers of complex folds and vortices, with a method developed by Lozano-Hemmer's studio in conjunction with fluid dynamic scientists from Georgia Institute of Technology, Auburn University, and NYU. A custom-made laser tomograph scans the breath exhaled while spoken, then converts it into a 3D shape using photogrammetry. This shape gets printed in high-definition stainless steel. Charles Babbage's 1837 statement: "The atmosphere is a vast library that contains all the words that have been spoken in the past," inspired the series.

At the same time, the series intones a vastly different tradition, that of the "speech-scroll" (also called a speech-bubble, banderole, phylactery or volute), an illustrative device similar to those used by Olmec, Mayan, Mixtec and other Pre-Columbian cultures to represent spoken words or song.

In 1860, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville recorded the phrase "Au clair de la lune" on his phonautograph, making the first known recording of human speech. In "Au Clair de la Lune, Volute 1," the exact phrase was materialized. In "Au, Volute 0," just the word "Au," was made from the previous phrase.

"Listen to the World, Volute 2," (2023) was made with a laser-tomography scan of the turbulent air ejected by a single human voice as it uttered the sentence: "Listen to the World." An homage to the influential composer R. Murray Schafer, who revolutionized the arts with his practice of acoustic ecology and his concept of the "soundscape," the sculpture renders the spoken word tangible. This piece is part of two permanent collections, National Gallery of Art in Ottawa and Jumex Collection in Mexico City.

General info

Spanish name:
Voluta
Year of creation:
2016

Au Clair de la Lune, Volute 1

Technique:
3D-printed polished aluminum, tomography video
Room conditions:
Natural or artificial light. The piece is silent and is not affected by other sounds.
Dimensions:
Sculpture: 65 x 19 x 21 cm Video Variable dimensions
Additional info:
A laser-tomography scan of the turbulent air ejected by a single human voice as it uttered the sentence: “Au Clair de la Lune”
Edition:
6 Editions, 2 AP
Collectors:
Fondation Giverny pour l’art contemporain

Au, Volute 0

Technique:
3D-printed polished aluminum, tomography video
Room conditions:
Natural or artificial light, the piece is silent and is not affected by other sounds
Dimensions:
Sculpture: 7 x 7 x 6 cm
video: variable dimensions
Weight:
0.5 kg
Additional info:
The word “Au” from the sentence of Volute 1
Edition:
35 Editions, 3 AP
Collectors:
private collectors

Listen to the World, Volute 2

Technique:
cast polished aluminum, steel cables
Room conditions:
Natural or artificial light, the piece is silent and is not affected by other sounds
Dimensions:
300 x 120 x 100 cm
Additional info:
A laser-tomography scan of the turbulent air ejected by a single human voice as it uttered the sentence: “Listen to the World.”
Edition:
3 Editions, 1 AP
Collectors:
Fundación Jumex Arte Contemporáneo, National Gallery of Canada

Exhibitions


Credits

  • Production: Stephan Schulz, Kitae Kim, Miguel Legault and Sergio Clavijo
  • Georgia Institute of Technology: S. Johnston, J. Imgrund, D. Fries and Devesh Ranjan
  • Auburn University: K. Johnson, J. Bolton, C. Clifford and B. Thurow
  • New York University: E. Fonda and K. Sreenivasan

Bibliography