Michele Spanghero Records the Silence of Empty Italian Opera Houses

Michele Spanghero, an Italian artist born in 1979 in Gorizia, explores the ambient silence found in vacant opera houses throughout Italy, converting it into sound using a method influenced by Alvin Lucier. His initiative, 'Monologues,' commenced in 2014 at Galerie Mazzoli in Berlin, with backing from Zuecca Project Space, Hausbrandt, and Ritz Sadler. By repeatedly recording silence, he captures resonance frequencies, resulting in unique timbres he refers to as 'the voice of the theater.' These sounds are showcased in sculptural pieces called 'Echea,' which are contemporary takes on ancient resonant vases. Additionally, Spanghero photographs unoccupied auditoriums, drawing inspiration from Candida Höfer and Hiroshi Sugimoto. His work was displayed at the 16th Quadriennale di Roma and is intended for the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial.