Evan Goulios

Rothko: Sonic Mapping

A smartphone app and gallery based sound design that explores the abstract expressionism of visual artist Mark Rothko by mapping musical sonorities onto images. These sonorities are derived from Morton Feldman’s orchestral piece dedicated to the artist’s work; Rothko’s Chapel

My proposal entails supporting a viewing experience of Rothko’s art with interactive soundscapes. In this way, an encounter with and examinaPon of his work becomes a multi-sensory experience that draws from the emotive elements of sound. Treating abstract visuals like a map for these soundscapes could evoke a different form of emotional depth from a viewer. Given that viewing art is considered as a deeply personal encounter, I am choosing to limit this sound proposal as an optional individual experience through the use of headphones. Upon entering the exhibition space, viewers will be given a tablet with headphones connected. When going to observe each piece, the viewer operates an application on the tablet that allows them to trace over certain portions of the artwork, matching what they see to a soundscape.