Soundings (1968), Robert Rauschenberg

SUMMARY
Soundings (1968) is an electronic, light-based, kinetic artwork composed of nine metal frames (likely aluminum) arrayed in a row, each supporting a set of three vertical overlapping Plexiglas panels (likely PMMA, or Poly(methyl methacrylate)). These panels are arranged with a mirrored row closest to the viewers, a row of clear Plexiglas screen-printed with black and white chairs behind these, and one more row of sandblasted Plexiglas panels also screen-printed with black and white chairs behind these. Eight microphones hang above the work, aligned to the eight edges where the nine frames meet and slightly in front of the mirror panels. Sounds received by these microphones are conveyed to a pre-amplifier, which, using four filters, amplifies visitors’ voices and divides them into four frequency ranges, and trigger the illumination of different groups among the thirty-six spotlight bulbs attached to the rear of the metal frames. These lights shine through the frosted and clear panels, reducing the mirroring effect and revealing the chair images to the viewer. In this way, the piece interacts directly with the viewer’s sonic activation.

TREATMENT
When the piece was reinstalled at the Museum Ludwig in 2023, we created new documentation, updated the installation manual, located and documented the original electronics (which had been presumed lost by 1997), constructed new roofing panels, tested LED replacement bulbs, replaced faulty relays and cables, and made recommendations for future loan requirements.