sibyl's breath
The Cumaean Sibyl was the priestess presiding over the Apollonian oracle at a Greek colony located near Naples, Italy. Legend has it that Sibyl of Cumae was invested with her powers by the Greek sun god, Apollo. The word sibyl comes from the ancient word sibylla, meaning prophetess, a mortal revered as a goddess – a soothsayer whose word had the power to sway kings.
The Cumaean Sibyl prophesied by “singing the fates” and writing on leaves. These would be arranged inside the entrance of her cave but, if the wind scattered them, she would not help to reassemble the leaves to form the original prophecy again.
Playing the theremin represents Sibyl's 'voice' which triggers a high velocity fan to blow the prophecy leaves, which shimmer and dance, but are suspended at the point of blowing away.
materials
PAIA kit hand-built theremin, amplifier, effects pedal, high velocity fan, glo in dark painted
silk leaves, black light.
© 2012
exhibitions
2012 SLAB 6: Expanding The Theremin, VIVO Media Arts Centre, Vancouver, BC
