To Touch

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To Touch

1993

Medium:
Wooden carpenter's table, electronic photo cells, 16 audio speakers

Dimensions:
Table: 98cm x 140cm, room size variable

Janet Cardiff

The action of passing your hands over the surface of an old carpenter’s table elicits an aural response from audio speakers around the small room. A couple impart their bodily passion while other voices disclose mysterious dream-like events reminiscent of a cinematic suspense thriller. These voices mingle among the familiar sounds of a car screeching, telephone ringing, a knife being sharpened, a gun shot, movie music, a woman softly reciting the alphabet. The viewers’ hands orchestrate this collage, composing layered and provisional tales.