FRAGMENTS OF PRESENCE
duration: 25’ loop
multichannel sound installation
concept, musical composition, arrangements, sound design and installation by Aimée Portioli
light projections by Marco Ciceri (the installation can also be experienced in audio-only format)
THE CONCEPT
“Fragments of Presence” is an immersive installation that explores the emotional landscape of grief, focusing on the theme of absence.
The work aims to establish a contemplative and introspective environment, inviting visitors to explore their personal encounters with loss and to connect with the universal elements of mourning.
In the installation, memories are portrayed as fluid and evolving entities, rather than fixed or permanent. The audio-visual content seeks to illustrate how memories are experienced and remembered amidst the backdrop of grief.
It strives to evoke emotions, provoke reflection, and foster a sense of connection with others who have undergone similar journeys of mourning.
By shedding light on the ways in which individuals navigate their personal experiences of loss and remembrance, visitors are invited to write messages related to their experiences of grief and loss. “Fragments of Presence” provides a space for visitors to externalize their emotions, thoughts, and memories, fostering a deeper connection with their own grieving process and encourages a sense of individual expression and emotional release.
THE SOUND AND PROJECTIONS
As visitors enter the space, they are greeted by gentle whispers of memories. The soft, fragmented voices share snippets of personal stories and reflections on loss, creating a sense of intimacy and connection. Periods of silence punctuate the soundscape, signifying the void left by loss.
These moments allow visitors to reflect on their own experiences, fostering a sense of stillness and contemplation. Disjointed sounds and fragmented melodies intermittently emerge. The sounds include ethereal music that evokes a range of emotions associated with mourning.
Abstract images appear on the drapery fabric as it is moved by gentle wind. They resemble distant memories that appear in some parts more recognizable and in others lost. Their intensity grows and falls creating a shifting light that evolves in sync with the changing soundscape, creating a dynamic sensory experience.
Like the visualization on the moving drapery fabric underscores the ephemeral nature of these recollections, visual fragments of memory are never fixed or static.
THE ROOM
The installation takes place in a dimly lit room with minimalist decor, black walls and black ceiling. The audience can be seated on the floor on pillows or standing with the possibility to move around.
The centerpiece is a large hanging vertical drapery fabric positioned in the middle of the room that is moved by floor standing fans. The upright and vertical orientation of the fabric mimics the shape of a doorway, as if granting us a glimpse through the portal of our own memories.
The speakers will be standing or hanging in a circular form around the room, with sound coming from the sides. The four speakers are positioned in each corner of the room.
INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE
To encourage active participation, visitors can contribute their own stories and thoughts related to grief and loss by writing a message. Pens and paper notes will be distributed on site.
The collected messages serve as a powerful testament to the collective human experience of loss and will be integrated into a future presentation of the project, allowing the narratives of visitors to become part of a larger work. By incorporating these shared stories, the installation creates a sense of collective expression and communal healing.
EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE
AUDIO PART
4 x high quality audio monitors with power cables
4 x regulable monitor stands
1 x steady computer with Ableton installed
1 x audio card with 4 outputs
4 x audio cables going from the audio card to the audio monitors (they need to be long enough from the audio card’s position to the corners of the room)
VISUAL PART
1 x large thin fabric, type of fabric and size TBD with Aimée Portioli and Marco Ciceri
1 x projector of 10000 ANSI lumen with a minimum resolution of 1920x1080. The bulb of the projector has to be in a perfect state
1 x regulable projector stand or hanging system
1 x cable (and adapter) from laptop to projector
2 x floor fans
