Le souffle de Sequerciani

2024
Bois, acier, pierre, électronique, cordes à piano.
780 (diam.) x 350 cm
Sequerciani Arte Clima,Seuqerciani, Toscane, Grosetto, (IT). 
Oeuvre pérenne.
Photos © Alexandre Joly

The Sequerciani stones are spirits that transmit ancient memories to those who know how to listen with joy. The stone celebrated under the kiosk at the top of the hill embodies one of these spirits. It lies suspended between two worlds: the physical world, with its laws and gravity, and the magical world of dreams. Weighing around 780 kg, the stone is suspended by 40 steel piano strings. The load is distributed by an ingenious set of springs, and the positioning of these piano strings follows the lines drawn by the architecture. Thanks to the precise placement of 16 small resonance boxes and 8 electromagnetic activators, the strings are tuned to create a major chord. These small devices set the strings in vibration without touching them, producing sounds similar to slow, deep breaths. Random algorithmic sequences control the vibrations, each sequence lasting 12 minutes, with three minutes of “silence” in between.
The installation also reveals the presence of the wind, which whistles through the strings, and all other surrounding noises intrude on this flow of sound, contributing to this unique musical experience.

The second part of the project is an immersive sound installation in the cellar tunnel, where the wines are maturing.The generative sound composition uses night-time field recordings and sounds generated by the outdoor sound installation. Thanks to the sound, a link is created between the outside, the surrounding landscape and the inside, by intention right through to the wine.