above: View of Metamorphosis (Sound Sculpture) at Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis, 2024-, curated by Dana Turkovic [to hear the music click on the sound icon]

metamorphosis (sound sculpture)

2024-

Cast steel, sound and music composition

Duration: long-term public sculpture

Laumeier Sculpture Park commission

Openend to public on August 24, 2024

credits

Sculpture created by and music composed by Monika Weiss

Vocalists in Movement 5: Amanda Casarez, Caleb Diaz, Levi Gentry, Andy Lewis,

Claire McFarland, Tushar Menon, Jason Oberstein, and Daniel Sosebee

Vocalists in Movement 6: Katie Beyers and Ingrid Piazza

Sound recording engineers: Jeff Allen and Cole Makuch

Sound was mastered at Experimental Media Arts EMA, University of Arkansas, special thanks to Adam Hogan

Curated by Dana Turkovic, Curator, Laumeier Sculpture Park

LOCATION

Laumeier Sculpture Park

12580 Rott Rd, Sappington, MO 63127

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

Laumeier Sculpture Park is proud to announce its 2024 Visiting Artist in Residence and Kranzberg Exhibition Artist, Polish artist Monika Weiss. Weiss presents Metamorphosis (Sound Sculpture), a sculptural and sonic installation dedicated to victims of gender-based violence perpetuated around the world. The outdoor installation consists of two steel columns emitting sound, installed along the Park’s wooded Art Hike Trail. The columns, situated like beacons, project audio during selected times throughout the day beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset, marking the times of transition in the daily cycle while observing the changeability of our natural environment.

Weiss’ residency at Laumeier is accompanied by two live vocal performances with participation of local vocalists. Presentations include Orgē, a performance at the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden and Metamorphosis (Performance in the Park), on the Art Hike Trail at Laumeier.

Metamorphosis (Sound Sculpture) is inspired by the story of the mythological nymph Daphne who transforms herself into a tree to escape a violent attack. The original five movement composition is based on Weiss’ recordings of her own acoustic piano improvisations and vocal compositions, re-composed electronically. Weiss wrote a sixth movement for Laumeier, which the artist composed for voices and percussion, and recorded with local vocalists Katie Beyers, soprano and Ingrid Piazza, mezzo soprano. Weiss invites visitors “to immerse themselves within this sonic field, where there is no beginning and no end. During the periods of time when the columns stand silent, I hope they will provide a solace through their quiet strength and heaviness, akin to trees that became women warriors.”

Working through installation, performance, sound, film, and drawing, Weiss poetically responds to questions of the body, history, memory and violence.  Laumeier Curator Dana Turkovic states, “Monika Weiss has created a powerful multi-dimensional experience utilizing sound, sculpture, and nature. I am thrilled to present it at Laumeier, as I believe her profound message of adversity and transformation will resonate with our visitors.” 

The 35-minute musical composition plays daily at the following times: 7:30 a.m.; 10 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.; 3 p.m.; and 5:30 p.m.

A sound sculpture titled Metamorphosis-Przemiana (2021-) by Monika Weiss is a sister project that opened to public on July 27, 2024, and is now part of the permanent collection of Sculpture Park, Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko, National Heritage Institution of Poland. The work is curated by Mariusz Andrzejczyk.

During the unveiling of both pieces, in Poland and in US, the artist conducted a percussive performance using mallets to gently hit the surface of the sculpture as if it was a musical instrument.

- Dana Turkovic

REVIEW

“The forest is never silent. Winds blow, leaves rustle, trees creak and sway. Music arises slowly, beneath the birds and crickets and katydids. The electronic hum washes outward from two steel columns. Sound burbles like water, clangs like a bell, pines like a human voice. “I’ve always created music alongside other forms,” Monika Weiss said. “I trained as a musician. During the pandemic, I was stranded in the studio with my piano. For months, I was completely focused on improvising and recording.” [to read full review click here]

- Liam Otten, The Source/The Record/WashU Magazine

Exhibition Views

photos: ProPhotoSTL