Curators statement: ACOUSTIC.SPACE.SET

The Acoustic.Space.Set series was conceptually based on an almost 2 years long research project that aimed to analyze the possibilities of the Irbene radio telescope RT-32 in Latvia for artistic explorations and civil communication.

For this purpose, the project referred mainly to the idea and method of "open-source sampling" which has its origins in the scientific and computer programming communities, where research is shared within a network for the general advancement of the field.

Both Latvian and international artists who contributed their sound files for these sets used data and sound materials gathered during the Acoustic Space Lab symposium at the site of the RT-32 dish in August 2001.

Compilations of the "Open Source Sampling" project were presented in Set #2 and Set #3 by a very wide range of international participants, while the other 3 sets were created by Latvian artists and electronic musicians Peteris Kimelis, Clausthome and for the last set Martins Ratniks. They have all been contributors for the internet radio OZOne for a long time already and in this function have had a significant impact on the development of the Latvian electronic music and sound art scene.

At the same time as audio compilations for the Acoustic.Space.Sets were arranged, the research results were summarized, too, and published on DVD with the title "RT-32: Acoustic Space Lab". Also an audio CD "RT-32: Open Source Sampling" was released, and the a publication of the Acoustic Space series is planned to go to print soon.

The Acoustic.Space.Set was our attempt to continue exploring the acoustic dimension of networked communication which we started in 1997 with the net.radio OZOne as well as the Xchange network. With the Acoustic Space Lab project we aimed to obtain new experiences and knowledge which could extend the notion of 'net radio' and take us further towards the next stage of the " audio communication networks".

The Acoustic Space Lab provided access to the huge radiotelescope and working with it inspired many artists. But even more important than this is that this "old piece of technology" succeeded to provide a new context for collaborative experiments, sound art and audio communication.

We would like to thank Kunstradio for this great opportunity to introduce the listeners to the Acoustic.Space.Sets. Finally, we would like to refer to the director of VIRAC (Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center), Edgars Bervalds, who expressed his delight that the antenna had been explored in so many ways, adding that, although the antenna ought to be used primarily for scientific research, "artists can use it to fill the vast spaces in our universe that science cannot reach."

peace!

Rasa Smite, Raitis Smite /E-LAB/RIXC

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