Newcastle Quayside in North Eastern England has launched the Flow floating musical watermill, which plays music based on river conditions.
As the wheel turns in the water, the tides power several electroacoustic instruments that make different sounds at different decibels and in different melodies depending on the movement of the water.
The musical project was commissioned by the Arts Council England as part of the London 2012 Olympic games. It took a great deal of people to construct and included a collaboration between the artistic group Owl Project, boat-designer Nick Spurr, producer Ed Carter, architect Nicky Kirk and a waterwheel designer named David Wilcox.
During the summer months the wheel will be on display for visitors but it is recommended that one only comes out to see it in between high and low tides as the water does not turn the wheel during those times.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- River-powered Instruments
- Opportunity to develop innovative water-powered musical instruments that utilize natural resources.
- Electroacoustic Instruments
- Potential for creating new electroacoustic instruments that can produce different sounds based on environmental conditions.
- Collaborative Art Projects
- Growing trend of collaboration between artists, designers, and architects to create unique and interactive artistic installations.
Where This Applies
- Art and Music
- Opportunity for artists and musicians to explore new ways of incorporating natural elements into their works.
- Environmental Technology
- Growing demand for eco-friendly technologies that harness natural resources for renewable energy.
- Tourism and Events
- Increasing interest in interactive and experiential installations for tourists and event attendees.
