Inhalatorium  

 

2004

Sculpture Center,

Long Island City, NY.

 

solar salt, benches, light,

2 channel audio.

dimensions variable.

technical: Viewers walk over the crunchy salt to sit on the benches and listen.  From one end of the hallway a male voice is heard and from the other end a female voice is heard. They are repeatedly holding a middle tone for as long as possible. The architecture of the space effects how the voices sound as one moves through the installation from passing under the male voice to female, whether under the arches, or windowless clearstory areas. Additionally, viewers may experience a combination tone when the two voices mix to create a third.

content: In eastern Europe people visit empty salt mines for days and weeks at a time as a respiratory cure called speleotherapy.  The great amount of negative ions that salt puts into the air purifies and cleans the air similar to after a rain storm.  The meditative environment of Inhalatorium provides a soothing respite from daily stress. The basement site illuminated in orange simultaneously references a shelter and spa.