Ascending Focus is an interactive artwork composed of a visual score of graphic symbols that can be played with an iPhone. Ascending Focus is part of a series of work titled Format3, which draws upon a system of 81 “sound symbols” derived from three basic shapes, mapped to sound samples from their corresponding elements — square, circle, triangle/earth, water, fire. This installation, which combines graphic artwork, virtual objects, and sound, explores new possibilities in music composition and performance. When equipped with the Format3 app, the iPhone becomes a musical tool, allowing the audience to participate in the creation of unique, spontaneous soundscapes.
Danish-born collaborative duo FOO/SKOU (Louise Foo and Martha Skou) merge technology with analog processes to explore composing, making, and experiencing sound in the digital age.
Artist: Foo/Skou (Instagram/Website)
Location: GreenStreet, Downtown Houston
Date: 2020
Type: Site-Specific Temporary Commission
Role: Lead Project Manager at Weingarten Art Group
Photos by Shannon O’Hara, courtesy of Midway