Expanded listening
Umbráfono, a project by Enrique del Castillo, consists of a performance with three optical readers capable of transforming light stimuli projected onto photosensitive cells into sound. These light stimuli are generated by a beam of light passing through celluloid films designed from the relationship between the wave frequency of the notes and the repetition of geometric forms, so that harmonic sounds, noises, sound textures and atmospheres can be achieved. This project is based on the optical-analogue reading system used in the cinema since 1919 to interpret film soundtracks. The reading heads have been modified to read multiple voices simultaneously and to function as independent instruments. Every component has been designed and manufactured by the author, as are the films being used, which are original compositions without copies.
participant
Enrique del Castillo studied music at the Ramón Garay Conservatoire for ten years and Fine Arts at the universities of Granada, Barcelona and Halle-Saale. Since 2007, he has combined the two disciplines and been interested in experimental music, with projects such as Las barbas indómitas and Oniropompo. In 2016 he won first prize at the Preventive Music competition, and in 2020 he was awarded the first international PowSOLO sound art prize. He has received scholarships for the development of experimental sound projects in Bilbaoarte in 2018 and in the Centro de Promoción Contemporánea de Andalucia C3A in 2019. He took part in the exhibition The Garden of Earthly Delights, held at Matadero, Madrid, until February 2022, with the kinetic sound sculpture Umbráfono II. He has also featured in exhibitions at Musée Transitoire in Geneva, and at Santa Mònica, Barcelona. His performances have been presented at the gala of the Festival of Young Filmmakers in Granada, the Catacumba Film Festival in Valencia and the Fancine. Fantastic Film Festival in Málaga. He has worked with experimental filmmakers such as Miguel A. Puertas, developing pieces of expanded film and experimental cinema since 2010 (Noctiluca, Onirokino). More information: umbrafono.bandcamp.com/releases
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