Heart of Darkness
detail
installation view
black noise
2008
Black Noise is the soundtrack to Genocide. Black licorice mice cover a turntable. As the needle bumps along over their backs, it generates a rhythmic pounding eerily reminiscent of tribal drums and machine guns.
During the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, the hate radio station "Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines" (RTLM) borrowed metaphors from the world of aggregate animal formation as 'swarming' and 'infestation' to stir the killers to action with a lively mix of entertainment, pop music and hate. On a catchy tune, the star DJ blared death tallies like sports scores.
The title 'Black Noise' alludes to a blatantly racist emotional disconnect. It examines how a radio frequency became a channel for crystallized hatred. Black Noise is also the technical term for silence.
the form
Ideally, the Black Noise piece is to be played live during a radio broadcast. This is a simple set up, consisting of a turntable, a modified vinyl record and a guitar amplifier in 'overdrive' position.
If for any reason the physical presence of Black Noise is not possible, the piece is presented as stand alone sound in MP3 format.
