The Calligraphy of Sound is the latest product of a subject that glass artist Lada Semecká’s has been exploring for several years, influenced in part by the time she spent living in Japan. In these works, she observes natural phenomena and records their motions while exploring possible methods of their sensory perception. At the same time, her interest in the characteristics and manner of working with material inspired her to explore sound as a phenomenon that is dependent on matter and time.

The exhibited glass paintings of clouds recall her older glass landscapes reflecting the movement of powdered glass on a vibrating surface. The newer works record random low-frequency vibrations, thus visually representing the spread of sound waves through space. As endlessly changing shapes, the clouds take on the form of waves whose frequency remains outside the realm of the audible.

By comparison, Semecká’s acoustic objects explore the possibilities of shape and material in relation to sound and space. The visual and acoustic characteristics of classical materials such as basalt, porcelain or fired clay allow for the intermingling of sensory perception and the imagination, and encourage an exploration of the boundaries between artistic artefact, sound and design. The bell-shaped objects invite visitors to interactively engage with the exhibition to create sounds that will resonate one of the bells. The visitor can then experience the sound waves spreading through the space until they fade away. Semecká’s objective is to create a contemplative situation in which sound is a confirmation of silence.