One Note Piece

Project information

  • Category: Digital
  • Project date: 2012

Digital simulations of analog processes don't always go as planned. In fact, some attempts at creating such simulations could be described as akin to trying to play a piano with a boulder. (Although, John Cage might still approve.) The cabinet portion of this work was constructed with a combination of parts from a piano manufactured in the 1930's, as well as newly fabricated components. It houses a computer which runs a physics based simulation that is triggered when a viewer presses a piano key. As the simulation runs, a boulder smashes a virtual piano. Due to programming parameters, the virtual piano is never destroyed the same way twice.