Dan Scott

2008

The Minute Museum

The Minute Museum was conceived by myself and my partner Trish Scott. It presents one minute of city life: 60 seconds of action that took place on the corner of C/Llibretaria and C/de Freneria, Barcelona, at 14:45 on 1st October 2008. The Museum breaks this arbitrary moment into its component parts, lingering over the different senses, exploring the fragmentary mix of people, objects, colours, movement, smells and sounds.

“One can see the world and see nothing. To achieve understanding it is necessary not to see many things, but to look hard at what you do see.”

Giorgio Morandi quoted in Michael Kimmelman: Looking Long and Hard: 2004

Streetscore (above)

Installation: 300 x 60cm
Paper, Pen, Nails

“The environmental sounds of a city are similar to a symphony - notes emit across the range of frequencies creating a near cacophony or white noise. From words whispered by strangers to the percussive clank of coffee cups though to the sweeping brass-like acceleration of scooters, the depth of sound has been recomposed in its entirety.” (From museum text mounted next to exhibit).

Play the Street

Installation, 150 x 120 x 150cm, prepared keyboard, headphones, wood, Ableton Live.

“‘Play’ the street. Take control of the loose moments and create your own urban soundscape. Each key is one second, each containing its own unique motif. The sounds have been filtered slightly to allow the different strata of sound to be heard: From the high frequency click of cups to the most mysterious sound of all - the subsonic hum of the trillions of wires that feed the city with electricity.” (From museum text mounted next to exhibit).

For more on the Minute Museum click here.