If you asked Bernardo Timerman, 28 from Olavarría, five years ago what he would be doing today, he would never have guessed it would be making instruments out of every day, discarded, objects. In his newest exhibit, Acordeonador, he has fashioned various accordions out of discarded, old compact disk trays that are on display at Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas (Corrientes 2038) from now until 10th November.
Courtesy of Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas
Timerman has been studying the link between art and technology and now lives in Buenos Aires working on the development of interactive installations, real-time visuals and projections. He stumbled upon this idea while attempting a different project. “It was a process, a search,” he says. After studying industrial design and taking various workshops and seminars in electronic programming, Timerman was inspired to use his new knowledge to create something different.
At first glance, the instrument looks like its previous self, a compact disk tray. But when you pull and push the tray back and forth, the instrument makes noise. And when you press the keys at the same time, the instrument makes beautiful noise. The instrument has been reused and transformed using an electric generator and a mini-circuit electric piano.
The accordion project started at the beginning of the year and is now on display, but Timerman said he will continue to work on it.
The exhibit is not merely a display; Timerman hopes that attendees walk about with a better understanding of energy. “Usually you just hear a sound without understanding,” he explains. “The idea is that this will be interactive.” The intention is for people to be curious about the object an investigate it. Timerman wants them to listen and discover that there are no batteries in the instrument; the sound is produced by the cycle of energy transformation.
The display is free and open to the public. Once inside the cultural centre, head up the staircase in the café and you will find the accordions. As opposed to most museum exhibits, you are encouraged to touch and not just look.
