Latest news with #Barbican
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Anyone fancy a subwoofer massage? The show that shakes you senseless
'You know, 528Hz is supposed to be the love frequency,' says artist Evan Ifekoya, striking a metal wah-wah pipe tuned to exactly that pitch, a fraction above the C, one octave higher than middle C. 'It's supposed to be able to transform the body on a cellular level. And, OK, how can you really prove that?' they smile. 'But I can say, at least for myself, it has opened up a new level of awareness and self-compassion over the years.' We know music is powerful: we turn to songs to feel comforted, to boost our energy, to appreciate beauty and so much more. But what about the frequencies; the actual soundwaves vibrating the air, our eardrums and our bodies – how do they affect us? From promoting deep relaxation to the use of noise as a weapon, there is a wide range of claims, and evidence, for the impact of sound. It moves us emotionally and literally, a theme that's explored in a new exhibition at the Barbican in London called Feel the Sound. 'The idea that the world is made up of vibrations and frequencies is something we don't necessarily think about a lot of the time,' says Luke Kemp, head of creative programming at Barbican Immersive. 'The big idea is how sound is more than an audio experience. We can think of our whole body as a listening device,' he says. Take Jan St Werner's Vibraceptional Plate installation, which visitors can stand on and then explore the resonance of their own body, and a film by deaf percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie discussing the rhythms inside us and how she experiences sound. There's a holographic choral experience, a playground of multisensory musical instruments, and for the finale, an installation in the Barbican's car park featuring souped-up cars with big sound systems; part sculpture, part dancefloor. Ifekoya's piece, called Resonant Frequencies, is an immersive soundscape using frequencies believed to be healing. Visitors will be able to sit or lie on a vibrating stage to hear and feel the sound, as well as see its effect on a pool of water at the centre of the room. As we chat, Ifekoya tells me about other supposedly powerful frequencies, such as 174Hz (roughly the F below middle C). 'This one reportedly works with the internal system, the organs, to regenerate and repair.' They show me a frequency board (a special type of circuit board) emitting an inaudible 7.83Hz, one of the frequencies produced by electromagnetic waves in the Earth's lower ionosphere. 'This is the frequency my home is grounded at,' says Ifekoya. Has it had a positive effect? 'My plants are thriving,' they laugh. Anyone who has found themselves next to the bass bins in a club will know the physical power of sound is real. 'You feel the low frequencies hitting and vibrating your body,' says electronic musician (with a PhD in computational biology) Max Cooper, who has plenty of experience seeing the visible effect of his music on crowds of clubbers when he plays around the world. In the piece Cooper has made for Feel the Sound, called Reflections of Being, visitors can get some of that subwoofer experience, 'the full body massage' as he puts it, without fear of hurting their ears, via tactile benches in the installation space which make no sound but shake instead. 'I'm a big fan of tactile sound,' Cooper says, pointing to a tactile transducer – or bass shaker – fixed to the back of his studio chair, which allows him to feel low-frequency vibrations. 'I do a lot of low frequency harmonies and when you play on a big sound system in a big venue, you feel that transfer directly into your body.' Cooper started the project by asking the public how they were feeling – the question was: 'What do you want to express that you feel you can't in every day life' – and then created music in response. The replies he got were 'beautiful, scary, intense, funny,' he says, and had a powerful effect on him. He felt a responsibility to do justice to the people who'd trusted him with their honesty. 'Because, you know, it's fine to talk about tactile benches, but ultimately it's the emotion that we can communicate that's important.' That intersection of science with sensation and emotions is exactly where multidisciplinary designer Robyn Landau works, translating academic insight from neuroscience into creative projects, often aimed at improving wellbeing. For the installation Your Inner Symphony, her company Kinda Studios has collaborated with designer Alex Jenkins from Nexus Studios to make the invisible inner workings of our bodies tangible. Visitors will go to a 'sensing station' and put their hand on a sensor to measure heart rate, heart rate variability and galvanic skin response (ie how much you're sweating). Then, once they've moved through the exhibition, they'll be able to test themselves again to see what's changed and their readings will be translated into images and sound. It's based on the idea that 'emotions live as physiological sensations inside of our bodies', says Landau. 'And these physiological changes are what shape our feelings.' It's very well documented, she says, that sound frequencies interact with our brainwaves, but researchers are now learning how frequencies interact with the way the body maps emotional responses. One study showed that we sense different emotions in specific parts of our bodies, and there is lots of research on entrainment – the way humans naturally sync up with rhythms in music, such as when our heart rates match a musical beat, or when we automatically tap our feet to one. The science on specific frequencies such as 528Hz is less established, Landau says. 'There is some evidence,' she says tentatively. 'Not all of it is clinically proven. But just because it's not proven doesn't always mean it's not true. Sometimes we don't have the tools to be able to measure it properly.' Most current research in that field is focused on largely inaudible, low frequency sound. 'This is where we feel stimulated from inside,' says Landau. 'There's lots of research to show that these low frequency vibrations can effectively make people more tolerant to pain.' She likens it to a cat's purr when it's relaxed. (Cats also sometimes purr when they're stressed to self-soothe – humans might try humming for the same effect.) There is a lot more to learn, but it's clear that our brains and bodies are constantly responding to the soundworld around us, whether we're aware of it or not. Sound 'drives a cascade of bodily sensations that shape the visceral feeling of being emotionally moved', says Landau. 'I hope that people can come away from the exhibition with a sense of awe about their own body,' she adds, 'and how magical a place it really is.' Feel the Sound is at the Barbican, London, from 22 May to 31 August
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Architectural icon and one of the UK's top 20 cultural attractions unveils plans for £240million makeover
CULTURAL icon the Barbican arts centre has unveiled its hugely ambitious plans for a £240 million makeover – complete with "theatrical planting". New images of the stunning renewal of one of the UK's top cultural attractions have been revealed as consultation on the proposals enter its second stage. 9 9 9 9 And it's certainly impressive – with a lakeside terrace another of its stunning new features. The newly released images show what the 43-year-old Barbican's conservatory, foyers and lakeside areas could look like after the restoration work has been completed. And that includes an urban oasis, a lakeside terrace, and dynamic new civic spaces. The Barbican's management team said the vision had received strong support in the initial phase of consultation with 90% of respondents reacting positively. Philippa Simpson, director of buildings and renewal, said: 'We've been incredibly encouraged by the public's enthusiasm for our plans. "These new images reflect a vision for the Barbican Centre that stays true to our unique heritage and bold character while making us an inclusive, sustainable and meaningful place for everyone.' As part of the design process, the architects and Barbican project team worked with two codesign groups made up of people aged 18-30 years old. Their insights and suggestions also helped inform the ambitious plans. The Grade II-listed Brutalist architectural icon was constructed on London's biggest post-war bombsite. It was hailed by Queen Elizabeth II at its 1982 opening, as 'one of the wonders of the modern world'. 9 One of the UK's top 20 cultural attractions, it attracted 1.54 million visitors last year alone. 'Utopian' English housing estate used to film Star Wars and James Bond – and it's free to visit However, after 40 years , the centre is starting to show its age and is in urgent need of upgrade. The first phase of the renewal plan from 2025-30 will deliver: A fully accessible conservatory which will remain open to the public almost every day. It will also have a new water feature, and 'theatrical' planting. There will also be a rejuvenated lakeside terrace, with fully functioning fountains, new landscaping, climate-friendly planting, improved seating and lighting. Also in place will be flexible foyers, that will' bring the arts out into the heart of the centre'. The design team delivering the programme are led by architects Allies and Morrison working with Asif Khan Studio and engineers Buro Happold, lighting designers les éclaireurs, inclusive design advisors, Arup, circular economy experts, Reusefully, and landscapers Harris Bugg Studio. 9 9 9 9 The City of London Corporation has committed £191 million to fund 80% of the first phase of works. A major fundraising drive is planned to secure the remaining support needed to fund the full programme. Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first phase due for completion in 2030, just ahead of the Barbican's 50th anniversary in 2032. Here's a rainforest in the UK with more than 800 types of plants and animals... The Living Rainforest is in the tiny village of Hampstead Norreys in Berkshire. Run by the Trust for Sustainable Living, as many as 100,000 people visit a year. Inside are three glasshouses, with more than 800 types of plants and animals - many of which are free-roaming. This includes the blue poison dart frog as well as pythons and toucans. The larger mammals include the two-toed sloth which is free-roaming and a six-banded armadillo.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Architectural icon and one of the UK's top 20 cultural attractions unveils plans for £240million makeover
The Barbican was opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II who hailed it as 'one of the wonders of the modern world' STUNNING PLANS Architectural icon and one of the UK's top 20 cultural attractions unveils plans for £240million makeover CULTURAL icon the Barbican arts centre has unveiled its hugely ambitious plans for a £240 million makeover – complete with "theatrical planting". New images of the stunning renewal of one of the UK's top cultural attractions have been revealed as consultation on the proposals enter its second stage. Advertisement 9 CGI images have been unveiled showing plans for the Barbican arts centre 9 The Barbican will have its own lakeside terrace Credit: Alamy 9 The attraction was opened in 1982 and is now in need of a major upgrade Credit: Alamy 9 The Barbican attracted more than 1.5 million visitors in 2024 And it's certainly impressive – with a lakeside terrace another of its stunning new features. The newly released images show what the 43-year-old Barbican's conservatory, foyers and lakeside areas could look like after the restoration work has been completed. And that includes an urban oasis, a lakeside terrace, and dynamic new civic spaces. Advertisement The Barbican's management team said the vision had received strong support in the initial phase of consultation with 90% of respondents reacting positively. Philippa Simpson, director of buildings and renewal, said: 'We've been incredibly encouraged by the public's enthusiasm for our plans. "These new images reflect a vision for the Barbican Centre that stays true to our unique heritage and bold character while making us an inclusive, sustainable and meaningful place for everyone.' As part of the design process, the architects and Barbican project team worked with two codesign groups made up of people aged 18-30 years old. Advertisement Their insights and suggestions also helped inform the ambitious plans. The Grade II-listed Brutalist architectural icon was constructed on London's biggest post-war bombsite. It was hailed by Queen Elizabeth II at its 1982 opening, as 'one of the wonders of the modern world'. 9 The cultural icon has been open for more than 40 years and the first phase of the upgrade is expected to be completed in 2032 Advertisement One of the UK's top 20 cultural attractions, it attracted 1.54 million visitors last year alone. 'Utopian' English housing estate used to film Star Wars and James Bond – and it's free to visit However, after 40 years , the centre is starting to show its age and is in urgent need of upgrade. The first phase of the renewal plan from 2025-30 will deliver: A fully accessible conservatory which will remain open to the public almost every day. It will also have a new water feature, and 'theatrical' planting. There will also be a rejuvenated lakeside terrace, with fully functioning fountains, new landscaping, climate-friendly planting, improved seating and lighting. Also in place will be flexible foyers, that will' bring the arts out into the heart of the centre'. The design team delivering the programme are led by architects Allies and Morrison working with Asif Khan Studio and engineers Buro Happold, lighting designers les éclaireurs, inclusive design advisors, Arup, circular economy experts, Reusefully, and landscapers Harris Bugg Studio. Advertisement 9 A major fundraising drive is planned to secure the funding of the full programme 9 The first phase of the project is expected to be completed ahead of the Barbican's 50th anniversary Credit: The Times 9 The music stage at the Barbican centre 9 The Barbican is an example of Brutalist architecture Advertisement The City of London Corporation has committed £191 million to fund 80% of the first phase of works. A major fundraising drive is planned to secure the remaining support needed to fund the full programme. Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first phase due for completion in 2030, just ahead of the Barbican's 50th anniversary in 2032.
Tatler Asia
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
The first Art Basel Awards recognise 5 Asian artists
Five Asians are recognised this year: Uzbek filmmaker Saodat Ismailova in the Emerging Artist category for reviving the spiritual memory of Central Asia through women's stories; Berlin-based Chinese artist Pan Daijing in the Emerging Artist category for blending sound, performance and installation to explore narrative and perception; Chinese film pioneer Cao Fei in the Established Artist category for capturing the surreal contradictions of modern life in China; Singaporean filmmaker Ho Tzu Nyen in the Established Artist category for his immersive multimedia installations; London-based Indian curator and Head of Visual Arts at the Barbican Shanay Jhaveri in the Curator category; and Korean American curator Eungie Joo, who has headed a number of major arts institutions including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and New Museum in New York, in the Curator category. The winners will have access to Art Basel's global network, tailored mentorship, partnership opportunities and bespoke support designed to amplify their work on an international scale. For the gold medallists, who will be awarded in Miami in December, the Art Basel Awards will offer further art showcases, commissions and mentorship opportunities.
Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
LSO/Dudamel review — an inspired conductor finds his mojo again
★★★★★Churlishly I considered knocking a star off the rating for this gloriously exuberant fiesta of a concert because the Barbican audience weren't really given anything profound or meaty, dark or foreboding, to ponder. But honestly, who needs soul-baring symphonies when you have Gustavo Dudamel guiding, galvanising and coaxing the London Symphony Orchestra through a succession of Ravel and Strauss scores that shimmered with sensuality and showcased virtuosity all round the band? You can sometimes tell what a concert is going to be like from the first bar of music. This one was launched by a surge of notes so exhilarating yet so precisely co-ordinated that you forgot for a moment how difficult it is for some conductors to start Strauss's Don Juan at all.
