sounds & repetitions

My main focus during the stay in china was on acoustics, soundscapes, noises, and instruments. Music as i would say. I was looking into electronic stores for interesting toys, searched for chinese music instruments on the markets, found stores of high fidelity freaks building there own tube amplifiers and speakers: I listened to the noise of the streets, the kitchens, people spitting and roaring like cars, fans making birdsongs and found beautiful records of classical chinese opera to Hongkong pop of the 80's and "learning english records". I have seen amazing street musicians, often blind, playing string instruments and percussion to make a living.
I recognized that chinese culture is full of little hidden rituals. Body movements with meaning, gestures of politeness and respect. They are casual but important.
Like tipping three times with your middle and fore finger on the table when someone pours you a drink. Or if you go to a teahouse while pouring the tea the teapot is lifted three times up while the tea runs into your glass. Both is a bowing, a sign of respect. If someone hands over something you bought often it is given with both hands, even if its just the receipt.
Impressed buy this I was imagining a performance with the repetition of gestures and action and their sounds. I wanted to build a soundscape with loops of recorded gestures. But i couldn't arrange a proper sound system to present this life performance in a good way. so i kept it in the drawer.
I stayed with the idea of a loop and found those drainpipes on the market which make a nice hum when you turn them. From there it was just a few steps to the installation i built for our show.
(Klaas Hübner)