Sift Sound (2024)

‘Sift’ is a collaborative exhibition between artists Liv Boyle and Sara Retallick exploring material exchanges and relations in contemporary jewellery and sound art practices. This project is a two-window installation located at the artist's shared studio on Gold St, Collingwood, with sound streaming online below.

The term ‘Sift’ refers to the examination and capture of materials – both physically and sonically – with focus on selection, experimentation, and refinement. Editing and arranging processes become common parameters between the artist’s practices, providing a structural basis for creative development.

This sound study explores a selection of materials used in Boyle's work including nurdles (Henderson Island), copper and silver chenier, silver granules, blue fishing buoys, press-formed copper plates, and kōwhai seeds. Sonic material potentials were generated by activating the objects in different ways on a floor tom, then arranging and editing these recordings/tracks using electroacoustic composition methods. The sound palette generated through this material experimentation makes two compositions, available to purchase as a limited edition (50) cassette here.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands in which this work was collected, developed and created. We offer our respects to their eithers past and present.