Architecture, art and design practice NEON has unveiled Cavalry 360°, a vast site specific musical instrument which uses the force of the wind to create the sound of the cavalry moving across the English countryside. This extraordinary mechanical installation, standing at 3.5m high and measuring 12 meters across has been commissioned by English Heritage as part of the multi-partner Arts Council England-funded Hadrian’s Cavalry exhibition across the Roman wall. The installations uses the force of the wind to recreate the sound of the Roman cavalry troops who moved across this landscape 1,600 years ago.
The artwork is arranged in a circular form to allow people to step into the work and look out through framed views of the fort and landscape. The experience is designed around emphasising the way the horse changed our ability to travel greater distances, and at greater speeds than ever before. The circular form creates an experience much like being in a room with a surround sound stereo system where the soundscape is constantly altering in direction and rhythm.
The artwork is arranged in a circular form to allow people to step into the work and look out through framed views of the fort and landscape. The experience is designed around emphasising the way the horse changed our ability to travel greater distances, and at greater speeds than ever before. The circular form creates an experience much like being in a room with a surround sound stereo system where the soundscape is constantly altering in direction and rhythm.
Cavalry 360° will be on view at Chesters Roman Fort until 5th of November 2017. Early this month, NEON has also unveiled The Wind Cathedral as part of this year’s Horizons exhibition in the Sancy Massif in France.
images Lightly Frozen / English Heritage / Anthony Chappel-Ross