“Subjective Acuity”

2022

Bell-bronze castings.

Subjective Acuity is an installation of four interactive bell-bronze sound sculptures drawing on the theme of the Snellen Chart and the measurement of visual acuity. The Snellen chart is an eye test chart developed in the 1860’s by Dutch Ophthalmologist Herman Snellen. Versions of this are still in common use today.

The small bronze castings [20 x 7 cm] of the same chart are hanging on lines. These objects have slightly different sounds and can be touched and collided to make chiming sounds. Beholding the work involves a number of senses, vision, touch, sound and smell. When handled, the bronze reacts with the oils of the hands and leaves a scent, reminiscent of that when handling copper coins. This work intends to question beholders about how artworks might be engaged with as well as the nature of measuring visual acuity. The lived experience of the artist has been included both literally, with the chart which he cannot see, as well as metaphorically, with the idea of sound, touch and smell being important elements in beholding.