Visible Electromagnetism: Sound-Music, Light, and Agency
The laboratory focuses on the study of light as a perceptual phenomenon for music composition, instrumental performance, and interactivity. Through theory and experimentation, the workshop examines different simple systems in which light and sound interact as similar perceptual musical phenomena in art and music. The laboratory is divided into group classes, individual coaching, and the presentation of a final project. By means of solar panels, photo-resistors, dimmers, relays, LEDs, neon lamps, infrared lights, and many other hardware experiments, the participants will design their own instruments, control interfaces, instrumental interactive systems, and other creative forms to hear light and see sound. This course is part of the composition department class Sound Composition and Creative Technologies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and it is addressed to students with a wide range of creative interests.
This laboratory is intended for students and artists from art & science, new media students, composition students, for composers, sonologists, and other DIY enthusiasts interested in working with light and sound and their conversion, with media and electricity, use of a voltage in music creation. Participants don’t need to be experienced, but they are welcome to bring their own project idea; and to share what they would like to do and learn. Morales Murguía’s presentation of his own work in the group class will be followed by individual mentoring sessions, focused exactly on the participant’s project or idea. Beside Morales Murguía’s presentation of his own work, he is going to show other examples and talk about the nature of light as music-sound-performative material and how he and others use it.
Number of participants is limited to 10 and the laboratory will end with a public presentation on the 14th of May at KONTEJNER. Participation is free of charge.
To apply, send an email with your contact details, CV and short motivation letter to the email address davorkabegovic@gmail.com, no later than 24th of April 2025.
Examples of student work from the course:
youtu.be/lXRJbLVINZ8?si=OAzIl-UsSszJ66XK
Hugo Morales Murguía (MX/NL)
His work explores the intersection of objects, machines, and traditional instruments as cultural artifacts. He focuses on alternative sound production mechanisms, DIY inventions, and the development of experimental performance systems, where the visual holds equal importance to the aural. His body of work includes pieces for instrumental music, music-theatre, lighting, hybrid media, robotics, and video.
He has explored the interplay between sound and light as perceptual phenomena through various works. His projects often integrate acoustic and electronic elements with photonic technologies, working with sound and light as indivisible creative matter.
He teaches at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, The Netherlands, where he works with composition, art science, and sonology students in the fields of sound, performance, composition and alternative technologies.
The workshop is part of the New Perspectives for Action project of the Re-Imagine Europe network, co-funded by the European Union.
