Herzschlag (working title) #1
2025
cowhide (recycled Japanese drum skin), speaker, cables, Raspberry Pi
52 x 52 x 11 cm

Skin, Sound, Silence (working title, 2025–ongoing)
Sculpture, Sound Installation

The Wadaiko is a traditional Japanese percussion instrument that plays an essential role in religious ceremonies and festivals. The drum's body is made of wood and its striking surface is made of animal hide. Due to religious values, the professions of tanners and drum makers have long been subject to prejudice and discrimination.
Since 2022, I have been conducting research in regions of western Japan known for their leather production, visiting tanners' workshops and drum makers' studios to research their history and production processes. Through these encounters, I have realised that these artisans possess vast knowledge and exceptional craftsmanship, approaching their work with great pride and dedication.
In Japanese, the heartbeat is called “kodo” (鼓動). This word is composed of two characters: 鼓 (drum) and 動 (movement). It is a unique word that does not exist in neighboring countries. Many drum makers and drummers compare the sound of the drum to the heartbeat heard by a fetus in the womb. In this sculpture and sound installation project, I plan to make the pulsation, movement, and vibration of life tangible through drum skins, light, and sound.

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