Jemma Woolmore: Plastic Sheet Orchestra, 2024
Type: Semester Project Degree Programme: Media Art and Design Professorship: Acoustic Ecologies and Sound Studies Advisors: Jun.-Prof. Kerstin Ergenzinger, Bnaya Halperin-Kaddari

The Plastic Sheet Orchestra is a flexible, participatory experience for a group (or ensemble) that explores text and graphical scores as prompts for making sound with sheets of plastic. It brings together the interest in everyday materials – especially plastics, group collaborative formats and translating concepts across different modalities – text, movement, materials. In this project physical interaction with a material and with its sound making capabilities are the focus. The aim is to create a scenario for a shared experience, that is open enough for everyone to participate, be creative and explore interacting with a material. Different types of prompts or scores have been developed as invitations to experiment with the materiality of a sheet of plastic.

Plastics are materials that feature constantly in our everyday lives. The project explores them outside of their regular context, giving a new physical experience with these materials. The chemicals used to make plastic and their bi-products are also the recurring interest in the artistic research behind the performance that explores the different ways we are in relationship with chemicals and how we can understand that through embodied modes of engagement.

Media Art and Design
Acoustic Ecologies and Sound Studies
Bnaya Halperin-Kaddari
Jemma Woolmore
Media Art and Design
Jun.-Prof. Kerstin Ergenzinger