Rough Groove Rd.
"Rough Groove Rd." is an artwork that documents the roughness of road surfaces, and then presents the results as sound installation. 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 are a crucial infrastructure for transportation, connecting different areas and directly reflecting the quality of life of the people. If roads are in disrepair, rough, or substandard, it will inevitably affect the safety and convenience of road users.
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 audio is then carefully edited to remove any external disturbances before being transferred onto vinyl using a sound groove lathe method. The design on the vinyl reflects the characteristics and names of the respective roads, resembling street name signs. To achieve this, a custom-built record lathe was used to engrave the audio onto the vinyl, ensuring that the final piece visually aligns with the concept of a street sign.
The vinyl represents 10 different roadways.
Why are the roads so rough?
The audience select each vinyl record to play, aiming to perceive information through the visuals and sounds of various roads. They join in questioning the origin of this data: why do the majority of roads we currently use have such conditions? Some routes are not up to standard and frequently lead to accidents for users.
The audience select each vinyl record to play, aiming to perceive information through the visuals and sounds of various roads. They join in questioning the origin of this data: why do the majority of roads we currently use have such conditions? Some routes are not up to standard and frequently lead 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.
The audience can find information about the date, distance, and location of the recorded roads on the back of the vinyl record.
Do we have a good enough quality of life?
The recorded data on road imperfections might provide an answer.
The recorded data on road imperfections might provide an answer.
Examples comparing the smoothness of different types of road surfaces.
