Shhh… - 'Sounds In Spaces'
Until 30th August
V&A, London
continued...

The journey begins in the V&A's contemporary space, where visitors collect headphones, a custom-made MP3 player and a map that leads them through the series of sound installations.

Infra-red sensors throughout the museum trigger the 'in ear' soundtracks which vary from space to space, ranging from large-scale "soundscapes" to spoken pieces in response to a single art object.

'Sounds' which particularly stand out is 'You Rang Me Lord" (track 10), by UK hip-hop master Roots Manuva, who rather amusingly manages to rhyme "Hilton with Stilton" in the grand setting of the V&A's Norfolk House Music Room. All very "bling, bling."

Track 6, 'Toilet' or 'Water Walking Symphony' by Talking Head's front man, David Byrne is self-explanatory ie the visitor listens to a toilet flushing - on loop. The track seems to make a mockery of the pompous, even proud surroundings of the V&A, and also some Observer newspaper art critics.
According to Byrne: “There is a little bit of trompe l’oeil involved in my pieces…I hope the effect will be a strange incongruity between the interior private world of a headphone wearer and the sounds one expects to hear around oneself..” Yes Mr Byrne.

All in all, this sound exhibition is pretty much like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time when you were a child - possible if you concentrate - but highly disorientating - watch out for the Chihuly chandelier in the main entrance hall.

For more info visit: http://shhh.vam.ac.uk