Pearla Pigao: Weaving Voices

Pearla Pigao (b. 1984, Lillesand, based in Oslo), who has a background in both music and art, explores the relationship between sound and weaving in her works. She creates textiles that create visual and tactile experiences of sound structures. The textiles presented at Kunstnernes Hus are digitally produced after the artist’s own vocals, then handwoven. Woven with a combination of both cotton and steel wire, the textiles react to the viewer’s presence. When you move in interaction with these, you become a co-creator of the work’s sound composition.

The starting point for the installation’s sound image is the human voice. The composition is made up of eight parts where each part is based on a chord that sets the basic musical mood. The piece’s harmonic progress is achieved by the audience joining in and playing the chords in different inversions, and with different key notes. The exhibition also includes sculptures where water is a central component. Like the woven surface, the water surface also becomes a musical instrument activated by the viewer.