Trimpin: Sheng High

Awe-​inspiring! A sound sculpture, this display combines the visual arts with music.
On the cultural Olympiad website, this shows that it takes place at «BOB’s Gallery». My friend and I had a little trouble finding this place. We kept on looking for the sign, but there was none in sight. We walked past the address a couple of times, then we saw the ‘Building Oppurtunities with Business” Society… which stands for ‘BOB’! Then we saw it-​a single black door, with the Cultural Olympiad poster on it. We were there!
Upon entry, we were speechless. Large vertical bamboo pipes sat in tubs of water, with several pipes within one. Each one elevated up and down, and creating a hamonious reed sound. By the reed moving up and down, notes and chords are produced. These tubs are placed in a circle, and when you stand in the middle, you feel like you’re in another world, with beautiful sounds enveloping you.
Inspired by the ancient Chinese reed instrument-​the Sheng, the Seattle based artisit, Trimpin, has done a wonderful job in applying technology into art. All these wonderful sounds are controlled by infrared sensors and scanners. Combining the traditional instrument with modern day computer technology, this installation has truly impressed me!