What is noise?
written by UeShiba
Noise is typically used to set certain mood or atmosphere. However, its uses go far beyond that scope; it can provide a sense of calmness or tension depending on how it is used. Some artists like Jackson Pollock who were greatly influenced by John Cage were interested in unpredictable performance such as chance operations where they would place objects randomly on the floor before beginning their painting process.
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Artists and Sounds
Not only does the creation of a work of art require an artistic mind but it also requires inspiration from sound. Artists have always used music to express their imaginations through paintings and sculptures, no matter how abstract they may be.
Jackson Pollock, who was greatly influenced by John Cage, understood that noise could be used as an instrument for painting. He would place objects randomly on the floor before beginning his painting process. The result is a beautiful canvas with some traces of noise which reveals the true essence of Jackson's personality in order to convey his message to the people: "We live in a constant state of change. But it is not happening fast enough. It is too slow! We must force the change."
And then there's American noise artist Paul DeMarinis, who had a great passion for experimental music and used noise as an element of art. His artistic works include performances in museums, galleries or even the streets where he mixes sounds from the environment with the sounds he makes by pushing a cart filled with junk across a room. The result is chaotic and unpredictable, which is exactly what he wanted it to be.
Noise in Music
Noise as part of music can be traced as far back as 1900 B.C.. The musical instruments at the time were primarily used for ceremonial purposes and were not very loud. However, with the invention of the first percussion instruments such as drums and gongs, it was impossible to play continuously without producing unwanted sounds because the instruments themselves were inherently noisy. With this in mind, Greek philosophers started to identify different kinds of noise.
The early Chinese philosophers soon followed with their own descriptions about noise in music. In fact, Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu mentioned that "the five notes are really one". This can be interpreted as "the sound of each note is so similar that we cannot tell them apart." So it is common sense that no musical could be played without noise.
Although music is still composed of an ordered system of notes, the meaning of each note depends on never-ending variations. Fusing together noise and music to create a new definition of sound art is known as noise music. This genre is not necessarily connected with the use of noise; rather it belongs to any form of music that contains non-musical sounds.
Noise in Fine Art
In fine arts, noise can keep you guessing when you look at a work and doesn't seem to be a part of it. This makes it one of the most interesting ways to express yourself and bring uncertainty into your work.
Sarah Morris, a British artist, was inspired by an attacked in Baghdad. Her works include paintings that look like abstract noise. On the left is a painting of the electric wires at Al-Nuri Mosque where ISIS fighters beheaded more than 180 people on June 29th, 2014, while on the right is a picture of London's Shard where a terrorist killed eight people in 2013. However, Morris' paintings which have been compared to bricolage and photorealism also show how important noise is in creating new and unique meanings.
Furthermore, the work of Banksy who has been known for his pop art, street art and graffiti can also be considered as noise. His artistic paintings are heavily influenced by noise in music and street art. In fact, many people would question whether Banksy's works were real or a part of his performance art. The result is a new definition of the meaning of art that allows the public to look at it in different ways.
Noise as an essential element to communicate and express one's self is not a new concept. The reasons artists use noise are basically aesthetic or psychological ones, which brings together different emotions from the audience and provides an opportunity to contemplate life while being entertained.