Resonance

Sound stands as a marker of time, signaled through the adhan, the call that brings Muslims to prayer – and a common denominator across the urban sphere of Riyadh. The adhan, while ephemeral, has a durable permanence in its cyclicality and the promise of constant return. Resonance is a physical demarcation of the occurrence of the adhan in various cities across the world. In this piece by Studio Bound, recordings of the adhan are played through speakers emitting audio frequencies that are then channeled into a pool of water inside a large vessel, creating reverberations on the water’s surface. The vessel is illuminated by light that is reflected by the water it contains, projecting a mirage of shadow and light onto the walls of the Wadi Hanifa Mosque. Sound becomes a tool that sculpts water into a dynamic, shifting landscape, making the invisible visible through Resonance’s light maps of the adhan.

Resonance, 2023 © Studio Bound
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art