LASER

Researcher and artist Benoît Renaudin (FR/CH, 1985, based in Geneva) is involved in interface design, experimental music, instrument construction and sound installation. With Benoît Trophème, a doctor in experimental physics, he explores LASER (Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) and in particular the acoustic sounds it emits. LASER is both a cutting-edge technology (glass cutting, microscope light amplification, etc.) and a very popular instrument (the sabres in Stars Wars, Jean-Michel Jarre’s harp, the capture machines in Ghost Busters, etc.). He works with the Atelier Arts-Sciences and the CEA (France’s Atomic Energy Commission) in Grenoble.

LASER is a sound installation consisting of a metal construction (approximately 50 × 50 × 180 cm high) containing a pro- grammed laser that plays a composition previously written by Renaudin. The laser burns an orchestration lasting a few minutes onto metal plates the size of 33 rpm vinyl records. At the end of the day, the metal plate is removed and placed in the venue, like a sound archive of the day’s production, or a visual and graphic extension of the sounds emitted for the public. A collection of circular plates develops from day to day throughout the exhibition.