THE TASTE OF SOUND

An experimental study into sound as a creative and regenerative force.

This project The Taste Of Sound is an experimental study into sound, sung intentions or living frequency fields as a remediation method for the Earth’s micro-biome (found in bacteria and mycelium that make our lives livable and edible). Experimenting how this principle can be used to enrich regenerative processes.

Inspired by the sonic knowledge and practices of ancient cultures around the world and the work of Hildegard von Bingen; her practice of sound and sung intention as medicine. The Taste Of Sound is also inspired by the work and research of Royal Raymond Rife in reference to frequencies and resonance as medicine and John Stuart Reid’s science of Cymatics.

Various acoustic studies over decades have shown that sonic vibrations shape and influence the behavior of matter. The profoundly beautiful and complex patterns that arise when sound sets matter (organic particles of any kind) in motion have been a subject of fascination for centuries, studied by scientists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Michael Faraday, Lord Rayleigh, Ernst Chladni and Dr. Hans Jenny. These intricate geometric patterns found everywhere in the Universe, Nature, art, and architecture show how sound manifests itself in form. Connecting ancient knowledge and modern physics, proving that sound frequencies are of essential importance in our world, more than we could ever have imagined. Modern science is only scratching the surface of what is possible in these regards. Eva thinks its time to adopt a new understanding of how sound shapes matter, of how sound can (re)shape life itself. Opening doors to the endless possibilities of how sound/ frequencies can regenerate our internal and external ecosystems.

When Eva attended an intensive course with John Stuart Reid in 2020 on the science of Cymatics, Eva found a great fascination in working with the Cymascope, the first scientific instrument that can provide an analog image of sound and vibration. The once invisible world of sound is revealed in a myriad of 3D geometric patterns. Developed by acoustic-physics scientist John Stuart Reid.

‘The Taste Of Sound’ aims to explore new possibilities of this phenomenon in order to arrive at innovative insights regarding sound as a healing, creative and therefore regenerative force. Sound influences the behavior of matter, of living organisms. This experimental artistic research project explores the influence of sound on the behavior, growth and lifecycle of bacteria and mycelium. Playing living frequency fields in hand blown resonating glass chambers to monitor the influence of these specific frequencies on specific bacteria and mycelium.

This project originated at a unique monastery complex located in Noord-Brabant (NL) including the oldest women's monastery in the Netherlands. It’s a rare and perfectly preserved historical area surrounded by unique ecological sites, where time seemingly stood still for over a hundred years. Build on ancient leylines it is a place where the ancient meets the present, longing to be merged.

During this experiment, Eva captures the soul of this unique place by ‘harvesting’ voices of place, the local soundscapes of the human voice. Sung human soundscapes (sung intention and prayers) from nuns in the tradition of Hildegard von Bingen and more-than-human voices of the birds and bee communities living on the monastery grounds. A source tone -a very low tone in a specific frequency- is also used, inspired by the largest monastery church bell that is rung by hand every day. Also taken into account is the frequency of place and architecture of this extraordinary complex. Resulting in very different bacterial and mycelium growth patterns, colors, shape, form and quantity. Very inspiring results to further explore in an upcoming research project.

Stay tuned! ;)

Funded by the Creative Industries Fund NL.

All glasswork is hand-blown and made in collaboration with master glassblower Marco Lopulalan and Sander van der Wal @ Van Tetterode Glass Studio Amsterdam, researching the possibilities of glass as an acoustic resonator.

Soundscape recordings in collaboration with Henk Meeuwsen @ Natuurgeluiden.