The Hydrowoofer is essentially a large speaker filled with water. By reflecting coloured light off the water surface, whilst simultaneously playing sound through the speaker, images and patterns are created. These can be captured by a camera and projected onto a screen, creating a visceral and immersive audiovisual experience.
This form of experimentation sits within a field called Cymatics: the visualisation of sound as it transfers from one physical medium to another. The term was coined by Hans Jenny in 1967. The earliest known form of Cymatics is was conducted by Robert Hooke in 1680, to which the Chladni plate was derived.
Explorations with the Hydrowoofer can be both artistic and scientific. The intricacy and variety of Cymatic patterns created can be visually stimulating for viewers. Whilst yet to be formally quantified, there is also a relationship between frequency, volume, rhythm and timbre of sounds played; the volume and density of the liquid; the shape of the speaker; and the resultant patterns that are formed.
To date, the Hydrowoofer has been used in performance based experiments, as an alternative scoring method for ensemble, and for educational and interactive workshops.
