Ray Lee: Siren

"A fascinating counterpoint of sound and light" The Independent

Ray Lee is an artist, composer and performer. Over the past twenty years he has made work that includes performance, installation, composition and photography. Ray Lee’s work investigates his fascination with the hidden world of electro-magnetic radiation and in particular how sound can be used as evidence of invisible phenomena.

Siren' is a whirling, spinning spectacle of mechanical movement, electronic sound and light. Twenty-nine large metal tripods, up to 3m tall, have rotating arms that spin around, powered by electric motors. Hand built electronic tone generators power loudspeakers at the end of each arm creating an extraordinary sonic texture of pulsing electronic drones. Small LED’s at the end of the arms trace circles of light as the arms rapidly rotate creating a compelling visual image. The audience are able to move freely about the space and experience different sonic and visual perspectives of the work.

Meanwhile the performers move about within the mass of swirling metal machinery, operating their machines and tuning oscillators to change the musical composition while dodging and ducking the rapid movement of the rotating arms.. The closeness of the tuning of the separate tones sets off a series of amazing overtones that evoke the sense of an ethereal choir.