sound installation, 6–91 speakers, variable dimensions
2017
The work “Dark Lake Ritual” consists of sound ‘portraits’ of the different oil pumps on the Bibi Heybat oil fields in Baku. Each of these pumps executes mechanical movements marked by a seemingly perpetual repetition. Although they seem to move in a very similar way, the sound of each pump is unique, due to mechanical imprecisions and wear. The installation condenses the sound by reducing the spatial distance between the pumps on the field to the distance between the speakers in the exhibition space. Thus a simultaneity of sounds and rhythms is created. The pumps become individual actors of a collective ritual in a petro-industrial sound choreography across the topography of the oil fields.

DARK LAKE RITUAL, Bibi Heybat Oilfield, 2017

DARK LAKE RITUAL, Bibi Heybat Oilfield, 2017

DARK LAKE RITUAL, Bibi Heybat Oilfield, 2017

DARK LAKE RITUAL, Bibi Heybat Oilfield, 2017

DARK LAKE RITUAL, score of oil pumps on the Bibi Heybat oil field

DARK LAKE RITUAL, sound installation at Yarat contemporary art space, artim, 2017–2018
SOUND SAMPLE: selection of 6 oil pumps
SOUND SAMPLE: 91 oil pumps