Interactive art from York St John team creates musical opportunities for everyone

A unique interactive sound sculpture created by a York St John University lecturer will go on display at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park this weekend.

The Theremin Bollards were originally created by David Young, lecturer in Music Production, as part of his three-year MA Composition project.

The project has created a lot of interest and commissions for work, most recently from the National History Museum in London where the bollards made up part of Universities in the Darwin Centre in June.

After the Yorkshire Sculpture Park exhibition, which runs until Sunday, the bollards will feature at the Galtres Parklands Festival, near Helmsley, between 22 and 24 August.

The bollards use technology to pick up a person’s distance and create a sound relevant to that measurement. David was inspired to create something interactive that means anybody of any age, and of any musical ability, can create a piece of music.

He said: “It’s about engagement and involvement. I wanted to design an instrument that anyone can play, just walk up to and immediately interact with.

“I created a ‘twenty-first century theremin’ and called it this because of the idea that the theremin is one of the hardest instruments to play – I wanted to turn this idea on its head, anyone can play this version!

“I’m very proud to have had my work installed in these environments.”

He has been supported over the summer by two second-year faculty of arts students Kaleigh Miles and Hugo Glenwright who have taken part in the project on a work experience placement and will take part in the Natural History Museum and Yorkshire Sculpture Park events.

David said: “York St John has been very supportive of the project and has sponsored the events and paid for student travel and accommodation. I really believe in offering such experiences to students as I got that experience and it had such an impact on my career. I’m happy to be able to give that sort of experience back.

“The two students were amazing, fantastic. They both really took the initiative and brought a great deal to the table.”

For more details please visit the Theremin Bollards website.