after the siren, before the bell
marissa lee benedict and david rueter
1 April 2024 - 1 April 2024
1 April 2023
12:01:27 – 12:59:59
Text and performance by Radna Rumping
Beginning with the audio engineering technique of ‘ringing out a room’—to locate resonant frequencies— ‘after the siren, before the bell’ turns broadcasting infrastructure (radios, headphones, microphones, cables, performers) into a site-responsive “instrument” that hums with feedback as it absorbs and displaces ambient voices and sounds in its immediate proximity. Appearing as a network of radios connected by cables and headphones, the work is part noise music, part haunted broadcast, and part acoustic archaeology. Referencing the outlawed medieval practice of eavesdropping, 1950s cybernetics theory, 1970s sound art, and artificial intelligence, the piece invites audience and performers to speak through and be overheard, contributing to an expanding temporal library of ephemeral sonic spaces.
Presented as a series of public installations and performances at locations across Amsterdam ‘after the siren, before the bell’ takes place the first Monday of the month, beginning after the blare of the public test sirens ends at 12:01:27, and ending at 12:59:59 when the ringing of large city church bells commence. In this sliver of time, the piece opens an acoustic whirlpool, luring in listeners, voices, speech, and ambient sound: a sonic topography torn to shreds.
A light lunch will be offered. Please rsvp to info@burobradwolff.nl
‘after the siren, before the bell’ is supported by Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst, and was developed with When Site Lost the Plot (Amsterdam, NL).