Instrumental is a body of work that attempts to dissect and examine various aspects of the musical instrument through sound sculpture and sonic installation. The exhibition pivots on the concept that the musical instrument, whether traditional or experimental, is an object, that inhabits a broad spectrum of considerations and contexts.
Sullivan identifies four main aspects that unify his experimental instruments: material; form; resonance; and interface. Furthermore, they are aesthetically connected by their mechanism, the things by which they create sound.
Wikipedia defines a musical instrument as “A device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument - it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument.”
It is this last line that resonates with Sullivan’s work, in that it reveals the defining feature of a musical instrument is something far more esoteric and formless than one might think. It is conceptual, with the decisive factor for its categorisation realised through intention alone.
The works in Instrumental are intended to be participatory and embody the variety of ways in which participants engage with music, and more broadly, the act of organising sound. Sullivan’s works prioritise found materials, reflecting his belief that artistic practices should be actively addressing climate catastrophe.
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