Nocturne
2 horn loudspeakers (1200 watts), 1 subwoofer (800 watts), 2 computers, 3 schooldesks, micro-chip, 2 photocells, 8 LED, video projector
NOCTURNE – A PIECE FOR 2 PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS AND 8 LED
On the island of Ouessant, France’s westernmost point, the lighthouse of Créac’h protects passing ships against the treacherous Breton coastline. This lighthouse, one of the most powerful in the world, emits 2 light signals every 10 seconds. I began by making a video of the lighthouse at night, from which I derived a 10-second film loop. The light emitted from the lighthouse was then analysed by 2 photoelectric cells glued to a computer screen. When this light reached a certain degree of luminosity, the light sensors would send out a signal to a microcontroller, which would set in motion a series of events. Functioning as a digital console, the computer would receive the data from the microcontroller and create a sweeping sound in step with the rhythm of the lighthouse.
The system of horn loudspeakers was created specifically for Passerelle. The two main components were designed to optimize the directional effect of the sound, with the aid of a sound-compression system. The design of the subwoofer was inspired by an Electro-Voice model from the 1970s.
