Peter Vogel's Analog Sound Sculptures at Bitforms New York

From April 20 to May 20, 2006, Galerie Bitforms in New York presented a solo exhibition of works by Peter Vogel (b. 1937), an artist who uniquely employs analog processes in interactive art. Unlike most artists represented by bitforms—a gallery specializing in computer-based art with locations in New York and Seoul—Vogel refuses to go digital, preferring handcrafted circuitry and sculptural construction. His works, such as Duo (2006) and Rhythms of Shadow (2006), use shadows cast by viewers' bodies to control sound output, creating a trans-sensory experience that blends visual, auditory, and corporeal elements. The viewer's movement in front of the wall produces musical sounds, as in Duo where bass and tremolo intersect to form an electronic concerto. Critic Robert C. Morgan compares Vogel's approach to that of Nam June Paik and references Marshall McLuhan's idea that obsolescent technology can yield new artistic insights.