Sound Fountain

BACKGROUND 'Sound Fountain' is a proposed public art work, developed for the University Square Public Art Commission, City of Melbourne. The proposal includes a detailed outline and supporting documents for the execution and installation of the sound work, comprising a 6 meter diameter ironbark timber surface imprinted with patterns relating to the 5 Kulin nation language groups. This acts as an interface that vibrates and plays sound when visitors stand on the surface. The proposal was one of 3 submissions shortlisted, from a total of 73, to be carried forward to Phase 2 of the selection process. Jordan Lacey was responsible for project coordination and sound design. CONTRIBUTION The work creates an imaginary connect with the two ancient creeks buried beneath the site, bringing the songs and stories that flow through the land to the surface. Lacey proposed that this connection would oocur through a series of soundscapes created from recordings of songs performed on country by artists and members of each language group of the Kulin nation. These songs, along with additional environmental sounds captured during the indigenous song recording, can be interactively controlled by visitors to the artwork in various ways. The work is part of Lacey's ongoing research at the interface of sonic arts and urban design, involving social relations at the juncture of environmental sound and individual perception, and how these relations shape cultural knowledge, social health and well-being. SIGNIFICANCE The significance of this work is evidenced by its shortlisting by City of Melbourne during a competitive international tendering process for submissions to the University Square Public Art ROI. The selection panel comprised two external and three internal assessors who judged the work on criteria including creative concept, experience and capability of artist, and cost/budget. All three shortlisted applicants have been invited to resubmit the proposal in the next tendering round.