Aún quedan unos días para poder visitar la instalación de Paul Devens…

Panels. An inquiry into the spatial, the sonic and the public

12 September 2010 – 16 January 2011

Visiting address
NAiM / Bureau Europa
Avenue Céramique 226
(adjacent to the Bonnefantenmuseum, entrance at Daemslunet)
6221 KX Maastricht
The Netherlands

Opening hours
Tuesday – Sunday
11.00 – 17.00

From 12 September to 16 January the sound installation entitled Panels. An inquiry into the spatial, the sonic and the public by artist Paul Devens can be experienced, viewed and heard in NAiM/Bureau Europa. The installation in the Wiebengahal with its characteristic semicircular concrete shell roof occupies the whole upper story, covering no less than 800 mß2. The work by Paul Devens offers the visitor an alienating architectonic experience in which sound and light play a major role.

In the past few years, NAiM/Bureau Europa has established several extraordinary connections between various disciplines in an attempt to address a forgotten potential of architecture.
The relationship between architecture and food production – The Edible City – revealed a new urban assignment, the link between sleep and psychology – State Alpha – revealed an unknown experiential world, while the relationship with the interior – Changing Ideals – gave insight into the way in which changing social ideals are reflected in the so-called ‘interior world’ of one’s own home.

Architecture – the mother of all arts – is often approached from a societal perspective nowadays. The project entitled ‘Panels. An inquiry into the spatial, the sonic and the public’ attempts to expand this perspective by dovetailing with an almost forgotten discussion in which architecture is primarily regarded as a formal and abstract language. By requesting renewed attention for the abstract qualities of architecture, the correspondences with disciplines such as music and dance become visible, and scope is created for interaction.
‘Panels. An inquiry into the spatial, the sonic and the public’ refers to previous experiments such as the Philips Pavilion, on which Le Corbusier collaborated with architect/composer Iannis Xenakis and composer Edgar Varése. At the time, this pavilion was described as a total experience involving architecture, image and sound.

At the invitation of NAiM/Bureau Europa, artist Paul Devens has realized an installation in the upper hall with a total floor area of 800 m2. ‘Panels’ attempts to provide the visitor with an intensified architectonic experience. The installation consists of acoustic panels that follow the contours of the roof vaulting, largely obstructing the view of the shell roof. The panels overlap and slide past one another, so that ever-changing patterns arise. With the assistance of loudspeakers, microphones and a computer, the so-called ‘Larson effect’ (feedback) is generated and the space is transformed into a instrument, so that the experience of the Arched Hall consistently alters both acoustically and visually.

Paul Devens

The practice of Paul Devens (1965) positions itself in between installations, with sonic and architectonic elements, electro-acustic performances, video and composed music. Devens studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Maastricht and the Jan van Eyck Academy. His work has been exhibited, performed and screened at Le Magasin Grenoble (F), Museum Z33 Hasselt (B), ctrl_alt_del Istanbul, Pause Montreal, OCA Oslo and Experimental Intermedia New York.

Previous installations of Devens are among others “Testing Ground” (2006), “Pavilion” (2007) and “Pole” (2008). Look for more information on www.pauldevens.com.