AUDIO CHANDELIER: POLYÉLAIOS, a multi-channel interactive sound installation by Dafna Naphtali, featuring a kinetic audio speaker sculpture created in collaboration with metalsmith/designer Ayala Naphtali.
Individual “grains” of nearly static sound are dispersed via the speaker sculpture in an immersive sonic experience, as undulating audio “pixels” illuminate and refract moments in time, eliciting reminiscent soundscapes of environmental / electronic fields of crickets, unruly flowing brooks, rain-rhythms, bird song and unruly percussion. This multitude of isolated sounds form a new sonic whole, ranging from turbulence to stillness.
In Audio Chandelier works since 2010, Naphtali has created both performances and fixed media installations. This new interactive installation was created during a 2019 artist residency at Harvestworks Digital Media Arts, along with a first-time collaboration with the metalsmith/designer Ayala Naphtali[DN1] .
DAFNA NAPHTALI is a sound-artist, vocalist, electronic musician and guitarist. A performer and composer of experimental, contemporary classical and improvised music since the mid-90’s, she creates custom Max/MSP programming for sound-processing of voice and other instruments, music for robots, “Audio Chandelier” multi-channel sound projects and “Walkie Talkie Dreams” audio augmented reality soundwalks in NY and Germany.
“luminary” (Time Out) “extraordinary experimental vocalist” (Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery. “Brilliant and dangerous” All Music Guide.
Metalsmith and Jewelry designer Ayala Naphtali draws inspiration from ancient alphanumeric systems, contemporary architecture and her own personal, cultural history. She is intrigued with balance and proportion and feels that each of her pieces must find its axis on the body. She creates work with elegance and minimal, bold forms, precious metals and alternative materials. Ayala first started making jewelry in her early teens, and studied Gold and Silversmithing at FIT and SUNY NEW PALTZ (BFA in ’85), work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries and museums, is collected privately, and by major museums including the Cooper Hewitt and Kunsindustriumuseum in Norway, and The White House permanent collection. Ayala exhibits in major nationally juries craft shows including American Craft Exposition in Baltimore, SOFA show (Chicago) and NY area venues.