Permanent times

This project draws on Chladni figures, acoustic patterns created by sprinkling sand onto plates held by their centers. The plates are set into vibration by a bow, which sets the sand in motion and forms patterns that vary depending on the frequency produced. The powder then accumulates in the areas experiencing the least vibration, forming various symmetrical patterns. Here, enamel is used instead of sand. Once the patterns are formed, the steel plate is fired in a kiln, which vitrifies the enamel powder and sets the acoustic patterns. The process is repeated several times, with multiple patterns and successive firings.

The result forms a visual superposition of frequencies, a set of reverberations that condenses the harmonic relationships contained within the manifestations of sound. The trace that remains of the phenomenon is not a photo or video capture; it is the material itself that persists as an imprint.

Enamel on metal is a particularly robust, stable, and durable technique, resistant to wear, weather, and the passage of time. In contrast to sounds that exist only in instability and movement, these plates transform this ephemeral phenomenon into a permanent object.