EWIGKEITSGERÄUSCHE (FOREVER SOUNDS)
Site-specific sound sculpture and augmented reality sculpture, 2024
The rushing of water pumps and pipes, the constant humming of fans in weathering systems, the electromagnetic whirring of generators and cable routes for power supply or the beating of shaft backfilling, where cement is pressed through pipes into the depths: Sounds from the so-called ‘perpetual tasks’ of post-mining form the basis for the expansive artwork Ewigkeitsgeräusche (Forever Sounds) by artist Moritz Fehr. Created especially for the entrance hall of the German Mining Museum Bochum (Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum), it can be heard and seen there for the duration of two years.
For the artwork, Moritz Fehr recorded such ‘forever’ lasting sounds at numerous locations in the Ruhr region. They are caused, among others, by infrastructures and machines that have to be operated for an indefinite period of time due to the impacts of mining. These facilities serve to protect the inhabitants of the Ruhr region and the environment from potential dangers, such as subsidence or a rise in mine water levels.
The impacts of mining also include earth tremors. They are caused by human intervention underground, for example by the mechanical extraction of raw materials, blasting or the resulting collapse of underground hollows. These subsurface movements are continuously recorded. For the artwork, such seismic data was included in the composition and translated in such a way that it becomes audible. Among others, they stimulate the large semi-transparent plastic panels in the sculpture to vibrate. Sounds from surveying equipment used to monitor the post-mining landscape are also integrated into the work. Likewise recordings of sites where the after-effects of mining can be heard on the surface, such as when mine water is discharged into rivers and lakes.
The spatial composition has an indefinite duration and is controlled by a random process in real time. Its sonic elements move through the space across the sculpture's 21 loudspeakers, swelling and subsiding, becoming audible in alternating sonic density, timbre and volume. In this way, the sound sculpture transports the sounds of post-mining and vibrations from underground into the entrance hall of the German Mining Museum Bochum.
Ewigkeitsgeräusche (Forever Sounds) not only addresses the immediate consequences of human interventions in the usually hidden and inaudible subterranean space, but also their temporal dimensions. As the consequences of mining show, the implications of such interventions can not only occur on a temporally tangible scale, but can assume such immense proportions that they last for all eternity.
Virtual sculpture
The artwork Ewigkeitsgeräusche (Forever Sounds) is expanded by a virtual sculpture (augmented reality) that can be accessed via smartphone. Download the app to your mobile device via the relevant app store and walk to the centre of the lawn in front of the museum. You will see a sign there. Scan the front with the app to start the virtual sculpture. The use of headphones is recommended.
Work details:
Sound Sculpture
Site-specific sound installation, 21-channel spatial sound composition
Material: Steel, plastic panels, cables, sixteen active loudspeakers, four transducers, subwoofer, PC with custom composition playback system
Dimensions: 10.7m x 7.9m x 7.9m
Duration undefined
Augmented Reality Sculpture
Virtual sound sculpture with 3D objects, spatial sound composition
Augmented Reality app for smartphones
Duration undefined, interactive
Project website, German Mining Museum ↗︎
Download exhibition handout (PDF) ↗︎
Credits:
FOREVER SOUNDS (EWIGKEITSGERÄUSCHE)
An artwork by Moritz Fehr (2024)
Realisation in co-production with the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum (German Mining Museum in Bochum) (DBM), Leibniz Research Museum for Geo-resources, represented by its Scientific Director, Prof. Dr. Sunhild Kleingärtner
Realisation of the Augmented Reality App in co-production with Ikonospace BV (Joris Demnard, Manuel Farre)
Funding by the Stiftung der Sparkasse Bochum zur Förderung von Kultur und Wissenschaft (Foundation of the Sparkasse Bochum for the Promotion of Culture and Science)
Team Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum:
Project Management: Willi Fockenberg and Steffen Seidel
Exhibition Engineering: Klaus Winkler
Electrical Engineering: Christopher Schulte
Media Engineering: Marco Daniels
Metal Construction: Detlef Diercks
Model Making: Manuel Becker, Robin Pechtl
Painter/Varnisher: Katrin Gorn
Construction Management: Sarah Bester
Head of Exhibitions & Education: Sandra Badelt
Graphics/Design: Karina Schwunk
Administrative Coordination: Christian Kalinofski
Public Affairs / Public Relations: Sebastian Pewny
Marketing & Digital Engagement: Sebastian Schmitt
Concept, texts, spatial sound composition, field recordings, audio-visual composition for the augmented reality app, composition playback system: Moritz Fehr
Augmented Reality App Development / Unity:
Joris Demnard, Manuel Farre (Ikonospace BV)
Provision of audio files on mining-related seismic events:
Dr. Kasper D. Fischer (Seismological Observatory, Ruhr University Bochum)
Provision of a 3D scan of the demonstration mine at the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum:
Gero Steffens (Mining Archaeology, Leibniz Research Museum for Georesources), Dipl.-Ing. Harald Saeger (Senior Account Executive Laserscanning DACH Fa. NavVis), Prof. Dr. James Perlt (Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences Bochum WB1 Vermessung), M. Eng. Nusred Cavdar (Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences Bochum WB1 Vermessung)
Further contributors Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum:
Teresa Benkert, Jörg Brodhage, Hannes Devers, Marco Haardt, Jonathan Hansch, Lothar Hengst, Matthias Jakobi, Christin Kemper, Lukas Kesper, Matthias Klaus, Andy Mannchen, Loreen Pfister, Rene Schauf, Dirk Seemann, Reiner Steinert, Nicolas Twardy, Ingo Wenzel
External contributors:
Statics: Dr. Ing. Martin Kobler, f2k ingenieure gmbh (Stuttgart)
Fire protection expert DMT-GmbH Bochum: Christian Chojnacki
Preventive fire protection Fire Brigade Bochum: Herr Mielke
Bauamt / Building authority Bochum: Herr Tommoseit
Scaffolding: Fa. Xervon (Bottrop)
Media engineering / Acoustics: Fa. IB Hartung (Bochum)
Additional electrical installations: E.H.G. Elektro Härter GmbH (Bochum)
Metal construction: Fa. Grigoleit (Bochum)
Recording Locations:
Muttental (Heinz Eberle, Zechenhaus Herberholz)
Mine Zollverein, Mine Hünxe, Mine Heinrich 3 (Jochen Braksiek, RAG AG)
Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola Bochum (Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Rudolph, Research Center for Post-Mining)
Visitor Mine at Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum (Willi Fockenberg, DBM)
Preventive Preservation / Monitoring
Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences Bochum: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Rudolph (Research Center for Post-Mining), Benjamin Haske (Research Center for Post-Mining), Carsten Wolters (University data centre), Prof. Dr.-Ing. James Perlt (Department of Georesources and Process Engineering), M.Eng. Nusred Cavdar (Department of Georesources and Process Engineering)
Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum: Dipl.-Restaurator (FH) Techn. Kulturgut Steffen Seidel (Department of Restoration)
Special thanks for their professional advice and support in making the project a success:
Leonie Kircher, Dirk Klemm (RAG AG), Andy Matz (RAG AG), Prof. Dr. Florian Sprenger (Virtual Humanities, Ruhr-Universität Bochum), Leif Szymanski (RAG AG), Elmar Wiejack-Symann (RAG AG)