KIERAN PRENDERGAST

Artist Statement

For the past 18 months my practice has resided exclusively in the world of sound art. Primarily concerned with how sound affects us and the role it has in our daily lives, I explore these territories through the use of frequencies and vibrations. Taking inspiration from artists such as Musique Concrete, Pierre Schaeffer and Tarek Atoui, my soundwork involves manipulating field recordings using computer software such Ableton to discover hidden elements of sounds or to completely transform one sound into something entirely different. For the piece “You Are 155, It is Good” I looked at how sound was being used around the world to manipulate and inflict a certain mindset on a populus. From sonic booms being used to devastating effect over the Gaza Strip by the Israeli air force to shopping centers emitting specific frequencies to deter young people from “loitering” in the area, sound is being increasingly weaponised and developed with intention to manipulate and control. For “Arrhythmia” I looked at what it’s like to study in close proximity to a building site, using manipulated audio from the site to create a soundscape consisting of four separate tracks layered on top of each other.