Turning Analog Technology into Sound Sculpture

  Egyptian artist Magdi Mostafa's interactive environment for the 2018 Dakar Biennial of Contemporary African Art turns the sounds of analog technology into a vibrating aesthetic force. Acting like tiny radio receivers, his handmade electronics make audible the otherwise silent electro-magnetic fields emanating from today’s myriad digital devices. He exposes the reverberations of energy emission and loss in our battery powered, wi-fi connected contemporary communications.  In “Transmission Loss,” electronic residue becomes the main signal—the core source of energy for an audio playscape. Mostafa invites us to turn a field of full frequency noise into a sonic composition. By tweaking the dials of tone generators and manipulating vibrating devices, we can alter sounds, discover patterns and explore the mysterious interactions of feedback and inter-device communication.  Sound Editor: Jonathan Pfeffer | Special Audio and Photos courtesy Magdi Mostafa Related Episodes: Samson Young Presents Hong Kong Mixtape Stephen Vitiello Live from Dak'Art 2018 Related Links: Magdi Mostafa Dak'Art 2018