In the auditorium of the Tieranatomisches Theater (Veterinary Anatomy Theater), the ``Theatre of Memory`` forms an extraordinary microtonal ensemble: 70 spherical, colourfully illuminated loudspeakers 'listen' to each other and excite or inhibit each other via their characteristic sine tones, analogous to nerve cells. The dynamically changing, rhythmic tone sequences and sudden cluster outbursts are not predetermined by a score, but are created through acoustic self-organisation. Complex tone networks are created that are constantly reforming themselves through sonic interventions.
A music that gives us an idea of the cognitive processes, which remain a mystery to us in their complexity.
In the immersive sound laboratory, current neuroscientific research can not only be experienced, but music literally becomes nervous: an entire room is transformed into a network of interacting sounds that reflect the fundamental processes in nerve cells that make us sentient and thinking beings. The walk-in sound space composed of communicating loudspeakers not only makes it possible to immerse yourself in the network structure, but also to interact with it via tones and noises. Once you get a feeling for the processes, the ``Theatre of Memory`` allows you to make music in a completely new way - music that gives you an idea of the cognitive processes that remain a mystery to us in their complexity.
The conceptual artist and composer Dr. Tim Otto Roth (born 1974 in Oppenau/Black Forest) combines art and science in a new way in his work, breaking new ground in public dialogue together with his respective scientific cooperation partners around the globe. His expansive work with light and sound is a key to this, allowing visitors to immerse themselves and intuitively experience phenomena without any prior theoretical knowledge. Roth approaches music less as a time-based medium and instead emphasises space as an essential constitutive element of sound.
In a special way, he enhances the spatial experience: by lighting up an active speaker, the spatial structure of the sound event, which is not audible in this way, is brought to the fore.
In a special way, he enhances the spatial experience: by lighting up an active speaker, the spatial structure of the sound event, which is not audible in this way, is brought to the fore.
For almost 20 years, the art and science historian (PhD) has been realising unique projects in close collaboration with astro(particle) physicists, mathematicians and neuroscientists, with solo presentations among others at the Palazzo Franchetti in Venice and the American Museum of Natural History in New York, as well as installations/performances at the ZKM Klangdom in Karlsruhe and IRCAM in Paris. An edition of his sound environment `{`aiskju:b`}` with 216 speakers can be currently experienced at the Musée des Arts et Métiers until 25 February 2024. The “Theatre of Memory” is a project by Tim Otto Roth in cooperation with the Tieranatomisches Theater, Prof. Dr Christoph Ploner and other Berlin based neuroscientists from the CRC1315 ``Mechanisms and Disturbances in Memory Consolidation`` at Charité and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Imprint
Artistic concept and realisation: Tim Otto Roth
Head TA T: Felix Sattler
Project management: Miriam Seidler, Antonia Willisch
Scientific cooperation partner: Christoph Ploner
Acoustic advisors: Bernhard Seeber, Simon Zierke
Conference concept: Christoph Ploner, Miriam Seidler, Tim Otto Roth
Coding: Manuel Prugel
Electronics development: Benjamin Piltz
Graphic design: studio +fronczek
Hanging construction: Alexander Kichka, Michael Reyl, Asko Fromm, Jan Kimmig
Speaker assembly: Paul Federau, Jonah Größle, Moritz Schulz
Exhibition setup: Björn Matzen/visionb, Caspar Pichner
Special thanks to Melanie Wald-Fuhrmann, Elke Lange, Holger Stenschke and Lovre Bogdanic from the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt, but also to Matthew Larkum and the members of CRC1315.
