Rough Groove Rd.
"Rough Groove Rd." is an artwork that documents the roughness of road surfaces, and then presents the results as sound and audio-visual. The sounds heard are compared with the quality of life of road users on different routes in the capital city of Bangkok, Thailand.
The artwork also serves as a reflection and raises questions about the fragility of infrastructure. It signals consideration of what the fundamental structures of the city and country will be like.
The artwork also serves as a reflection and raises questions about the fragility of infrastructure. It signals consideration of what the fundamental structures of the city and country will be like.
Roads, fundamental public infrastructure connecting various areas, can be seen as a reflection of the quality of life for those who travel on them.
Adding to the problem of deteriorated roads, Bangkok's manhole covers often appear haphazardly designed and non-standardized.
This series employs sound recordings captured by cars equipped with test tubes containing steel balls. As the vehicles traverse rough or potholed roads, the vibrations trigger collisions between the steel balls, generating sound.
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The recording process controls variables and selects routes that the recorder uses regularly.
The recorded sound is edited to remove any extraneous noises, then transferred onto vinyl using a sound groove lathe. The design on the vinyl reflects the characteristics and names of the respective roads, similar to street name signs.
The vinyl represents 10 different roadways.
Why are the roads so rough?
Visitors choose each vinyl record, drawn to the visuals and sounds representing various Bangkok roads. This experience prompts them to question the underlying reasons for the poor road conditions. Many of the roads, falling short of standards, frequently contribute to accidents for users
Visitors choose each vinyl record, drawn to the visuals and sounds representing various Bangkok roads. This experience prompts them to question the underlying reasons for the poor road conditions. Many of the roads, falling short of standards, frequently contribute to accidents for users
Questions arise about budget allocation for road construction and maintenance: where does it go?
Why must citizens endure these conditions and bear the brunt of the responsibility?
Why must citizens endure these conditions and bear the brunt of the responsibility?
Playing each vinyl record on a turntable translates the recorded road noise into an audio-visual display on a screen. This display, generated by the VVVV software program, resembles a graph that depicts the smoothness or condition of the corresponding road surface.
Visitors can see information about the date, distance, and location of the recorded roads on the backside of the vinyl record.
Is our current quality of life satisfactory?
The recorded data on road imperfections might offer a telling answer.
The recorded data on road imperfections might offer a telling answer.
Examples comparing the smoothness of different types of road surfaces.
Artist: Witaya Junma
Artist Assistant: Tidaporn Jiraruangrit
Artist Assistant: Tidaporn Jiraruangrit