Urban Language / Langage Urbain

Aluminium, hydraulics, ambient sound and voice. 1992.

Two large aluminium ear horns are mounted on hinges at each end of a curved granite bench. They are on the plaza of the International Style, Maison Trust Royal building. The horns are each approximately 35' (11 M) around the outside, and the large ends directly face each other, cantilevered over a reflecting pool. They are mounted on hydraulic rams, powered from the basements of the building. They slowly move independently up and down, pivoting on the hinges. They are set slightly out of phase with each other, with one in a 40 second period and the other, a 42 second period. This causes them to go in and out of phase aligning in synchronicity about once per hour. When this occurs, there is a link of communication between the small ear/mouth ends that the participants can listen and speak through. Several layers of communication need to be established and understood in order to talk and hear with another person at the other end... and only when the horns are passing or lined up in sync.