Aeolus Acoustic Wind Pavilion
{{Short description|Musical art installation by Luke Jerram}}
{{Infobox musical instrument
| name = Aeolus Acoustic Wind Pavilion
| background = string
| image = Canary Wharf Aeolus sculpture 2.JPG
| caption = The installation at Canary Wharf
| classification = Chordophone
| hornbostel_sachs =
| inventors = Luke Jerram
| developed = 21st century
}}
The Aeolus Acoustic Wind Pavilion is a musical installation artwork created by Luke Jerram. It is a large aeolian harp that was inspired by Jerram's time in Iran. The installation toured England from 2011 to 2012, appearing at Lyme Park, the Eden Project, MediaCityUK and Canary Wharf.
Origins
The pavilion was created by Luke Jerram, an artist from Bristol, with help from Tim Waters (University of Southampton), Ian Drumm (University of Salford) and the Arup Group.{{Cite web |title=Acoustics sculpture {{!}} Aerospace {{!}} University of Southampton |url=https://www.southampton.ac.uk/aerospace/news/2011/08/2_acoustics_sculpture.page |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=www.southampton.ac.uk}}{{Cite web |date=2012-04-22 |title=Acoustic wind pavilion makes music out of thin air |url=https://newatlas.com/acoustic-pavilion-music-thin-air/22240/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=New Atlas |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Unique acoustic sculpture that 'sings' with the wind comes to Lyme Park |url=https://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/9178868.unique-acoustic-sculpture-that-sings-with-the-wind-comes-to-lyme-park/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Messenger Newspapers |date=4 August 2011 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2010-11-20 |title=Salford scientists help create wind sculpture |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/salford-scientists-help-create-wind-903473 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}} Funding was provided by Arts Council England (who provided £95,000),{{Cite web |date=2012-02-02 |title=Arts Council Press Office |url=http://press.artscouncil.org.uk/Press-Releases/Giant-singing-sculpture-comes-to-the-Eden-Project-554.aspx |access-date=2023-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202171221/http://press.artscouncil.org.uk/Press-Releases/Giant-singing-sculpture-comes-to-the-Eden-Project-554.aspx |archive-date=2012-02-02 }} the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Outokumpu.
The installation is named after Aeolus, the Ancient Greek ruler of the winds.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/MakeMagazine33 |title=Make Magazine, Issue 33 |date=2013 |publisher=O’Reilly Media}} Jerram first conceptualized the installation in 2007 during a spell in Yazd, Iran.{{Cite web |last=db |first=leigha |date=2012-03-29 |title=luke jerram: aeolus wind sound sculpture at canary wharf, london |url=https://www.designboom.com/art/luke-jerram-aeolus-wind-sound-sculpture-at-canary-wharf-london/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=designboom |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Aeolus – Acoustic Wind Pavilion / Luke Jerram |website=eVolo |first1=Lidija |last1=Grozdanic | date=July 27, 2012 |url=https://www.evolo.us/aeolus-acoustic-wind-pavilion-luke-jerram/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2012-05-30 |title=A Public Sculpture That Moans and Howls in the Wind |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-30/a-public-sculpture-that-moans-and-howls-in-the-wind |first1=John |last1=Metcalfe |access-date=2023-02-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240510235011/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-30/a-public-sculpture-that-moans-and-howls-in-the-wind |archive-date= 10 May 2024 }} While speaking with a well-digger working on a qanat,{{Cite web |date=2012-04-17 |title=Aeolus Pavilion is a Gigantic Acoustic Sculpture that Sings With the Wind in London |url=https://inhabitat.com/charming-giant-sculpture-aeolus-makes-wind-audible-in-london/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Inhabitat |first1=Ana |last1=Lisa |language=en-US}} the digger mentioned that the qanat would sometimes make sounds at times when there was wind. This inspired Jerram to create a piece of architecture that "would resonate and sing with the wind".
Design
Aeolus is an aeolian harp, a stringed instrument that produces music using the wind. Nylon strings are stretched along the tubes, which amplify the strings' sounds.{{Cite web |title=Structural Engineering Design for the Aeolus acoustic wind pavilion |url=https://www.arup.com/en/projects/aeolus-acoustic-wind-pavilion |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Arup |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Trevor |date=2014-01-21 |title=The 10 strangest musical instruments |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/21/10-strangest-musical-instruments |access-date=2023-02-11 |issn=0261-3077}} During times that there is no wind, tubes with no strings play low tones in the aeolian mode.{{Cite web |title=Aeolus is a remarkable wind powered instrument humming away in Canary Wharf |url=https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/aeolus-acoustic-wind-pavilion |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=www.itsnicethat.com |language=en}} The sounds Aeolus produces have been likened to the minimalist music of Steve Reich.
The installation's design takes cues from religious architecture, such as St. Peter's Basilica and the domes of mosques. Jerram used 310 polished stainless steel tubes to create the piece. The installation is {{Convert|6|m}} tall and weighs around {{Convert|10000|kg}}.{{Cite book |last=Cox |first=Trevor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rATGAgAAQBAJ&dq=aeolus+comes+to+mediacity&pg=PA125 |title=The Sound Book: The Science of the Sonic Wonders of the World |date=2014-02-10 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |isbn=978-0-393-23979-9 |language=en}} Each tube measures {{Convert|2.5|m}} in length.
Touring
Aelous toured England from 2011 to 2012. The tour began at Lyme Park where it was in display from 6-20 August 2011. It then appeared at the Eden Project from 19 September to 9 October. During its time at the Eden Project, an exhibition showcasing Aeolus' creation took place at the Royal West of England Academy. The installation then displayed at MediaCityUK from 22 October{{Cite web |title=Public Art Online News - Aeolus – Acoustic Wind Pavilion by Luke Jerram |url=https://publicartonline.org.uk/whatsnew/news/article.php/Aeolus+%E2%80%93+Acoustic+Wind+Pavilion+by+Luke+Jerram.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=publicartonline.org.uk}} before finishing with a spell at Canada Square Park in Canary Wharf, London from 27 March to 10 May 2012.{{Cite web |last=Noorata |first=Pinar |date=2012-04-05 |title=Interactive Acoustic Wind Pavilion |url=https://mymodernmet.com/luke-jerram-aeolus/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=My Modern Met |language=en}}