Omphalomin - a public sound sculpture

Going through my files I found this documentation video about my first permanent outdoor sculpture, the Omphalomin. Visual artist Clara Ursitti impersonates the famous theremin virtuosa Clara Rockmore, who was also a great inspiration for this art work.

The piece was commissioned by the Helsinki City Art Museum 2006 and placed in a park in eastern Helsinki (Rekipellonpuisto, Vesala). The sculpture is made of stainless steel and creates sound through optical sensors. My inspiration for this work was the theremin, one of the first electronic instruments (1919) and designed to be played without being touched by it's creator Léon Theremin.

I was planning to arrange a "Best Omphalomin Composition Competition", but I had some difficulties with the arrangements this year... but I do hope it will take place! The prizes will be incredible of course, so start rehearsing!

Last time I went to check on the sculpture I saw some people sitting nearby having a beer - a very common sight in that area... Anyway, I went to ask them if they knew about how much the Omphalomin is played on, but they thought I came to collect their empty bottles. So, I got no answer to my question really, they kept offering me the bottles...

The still image above shows the first prototype, which was a real theremin.