The ParaOice
The ParaOice is a sound installation by CUTTER // NASH.
The work featured in the bodyparts exhibition, Asia House, London, 2-5 Jul 2019 – “exploring perceptions and responses to disabled bodies” based on research by Bournemouth University and the University of Bath. A group of disabled artists were commissioned to produce work inspired by the public response to television coverage of the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics.
“A Paralympic parody, ‘The ParaOice’ is based on a futuristic vocal competition. Through the lens of post-human, queer and disability theories, this piece examines public perceptions of ‘realness’. Exploring how Paralympic sport has impacted upon society’s views about disability, validity and normativity.
Imagine a 2099 remake of ‘The Voice’ competition. In this dystopian future, competitors with augmented voices are disqualified. A lucky few, however, qualify for a parallel competition ‘The ParaOice’. Most people love ‘The ParaOice’ but some question its eligibility criteria, likening the show to vegan steak. This in part has been due to the rise in bionic vocal chords….”
Gemma (Nash) had been one of the contributing artists for Cornbrook Creative and James Medd’s Sonic Pixels @ Barton Arcade interactive installation as part of Manchester Science Festival, 26-29 Oct 2018. We’d previously worked together on a couple on projects – including The Nashesizer – a custom-made accessible music controller to help Gemma make her music and sound art more easily – and The Non-Normative Speaking Clock – creative software developed as a critique of the iconic British Telecom service as a part of Gemma’s sound art project: Beyond Vocal Norms – a sound journey exploring the non-normative voice.
CUTTER // NASH asked whether Sonic Pixels could be used as the delivery system for their work as part of the exhibition and we agreed. We’d always considered Sonic Pixels an ‘art-technology toolkit’ and were keen to find ways to use in diverse settings – including gallery shows.
I subsequently re-mixed the CUTTER // NASH sound work developed in Ableton Live spreading various sonic elements across eight Sonic Pixels (mounted on mic stands fitted with custom-made cradles), arranged in a semi-circle and triggered by a control interface on a Novation Launchpad Mk2. The effect was a dynamic, immersive, spatialised sonic experience with elements of the piece moving and jumping between the various speakers.
Video documentation of The ParaOice at bodyparts is embedded below (though it’s only a stereo mix that doesn’t quite capture the spatialised nature of the work as experienced in the gallery).