“Sonic Presence (or Absence)…listens for what happens when artists approach sound as something not only to play, but play with.” —Surface Magazine
How can sound, actual or implied, impact or inform our interpretation of both unremarkable and extraordinary experiences? While sound is physical—a wave moving through space—it remains invisible to the human eye. Like a texture we cannot touch, implied sound is dependent on our imaginations, memories, and projections.
Throughout The Fabric Workshop and Museum’s history, Artists-in-Residence have used sound as the focus or as a conceptual component of their residencies. These projects have often explored how to offer a direct translation of sound, an indirect representation of its energy and cultural forms, or inspire an audible response from an audience. As the title suggests, the artworks presented in this exhibition demonstrate the notion of a “sonic presence,” a palpable connection between the visual and the aural. Featuring works from the Museum’s collection alongside a selection of loaned works, Sonic Presence invites visitors to explore the resonant themes of sound in visual arts, be it implied, imagined, absent, or realized.
Encounter works across a range of media by the following artists: Terry Adkins, Janine Antoni, Moe Brooker, Nick Cave, Lenka Clayton, Kevin Cooley, Peter Edwards, Guillermo Galindo, Ann Hamilton, Christine Sun Kim, Phillip Andrew Lewis, Glenn Ligon, Thomas Mader, Jason Moran, Robert Morris, Stephen Petronio, Raúl Romero, Yinka Shonibare, Patrick Siler, Kiki Smith, Mika Tajima, and Lenore Tawney.
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