Shahab Fotouhi-when first approaching the neon lights in such an open space, it felt like the archway was more of an entrance to a place of peace and serenity. It felt calm and like a hypnotized insect you feel somewhat fascinated and engrossed by the "glowing trail". This is what first caught my attention to the sculpture. However when acknowledging the theme and the looped video that accompanies Fotouhi's sculpture, i found the work both humorous yet daunting, with thinking this may be an interpretation of a "doorway to peace" when really such imagery can be seen as a hint to the brutal ruthlessness to come to Iran. The irony and the contrast amused me.
Shilpa GuptaThe "singing cloud" when seen, doesn't give the impression of something light and fluffy like what the name suggests. The 4,000 microphones in which emits multiple layers of voices and sounds would be found to resemble something heavier and to some extent more daunting in comparison to something you would call a "singing cloud". You could say that this mass of technology is very closely reminiscent of a bomb or a mushroom cloud. Though without realizing this resemblance, i at first found difficulty relating it to the airport-style flap board that accompanied the sculpture, displaying cryptic messages based on the psychology of fear and prejudice. Through this i discovered a deeper meaning within the mass of microphones and i started to appreciate the work more.
I didnt know that the electronic numbers were related to the cloud either, after reading this it makes a lot more sense and is much more symbolic than i thought at first. I think the fear just gives the whole thing a much more serious tone that what you have to begin with. When visiting the gallery and seeing this work i was really interested in figuring out how the whole thing worked, so i think that in a way, the idea of a microphone cloud which makes sounds projecting out (rather that in like a microphone should be) draws people in technologically first.
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