Looking Outwards 4: Sound Art

For this week’s LO, I looked into “Cycling Wheel: The Orchestra” created by Keith Lam, Seth Hon, and Alex Lai. The piece was first released in 2016 is composed of 3 sets of bicycle wheels and connecting strings. Together, the installation acts as a dynamic and interactive instrument for performance. The Hong Kong-based new media artist Keith Lam explains that the piece was based on the idea of Marcel’s Bicycle Wheel and that they wanted to remake the masterpiece by composing a multi-media performance. I love how they embedded audio and lighting in the wheel so the piece is very dynamic and interactive. The music created is very unique and the flashing lights really complement the orchestra. I also admire how there’s a live element where the artists are present and controlling those wheels in front of an audience. I suppose the algorithms behind the project helps to transform the mechanics of the wheel into variations in sounds and lights.