1979
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Max Neuhaus created several sound installations that occupied interior architectural spaces, sometimes referred to as "rooms". These works were central to his shift from musical performance to using sound as a material to create a "place".
In June 1976, Max Neuhaus presented an untitled sound installation for the inaugural exhibition "Rooms" at P.S. 1 in New York. The work is an example of his site-specific approach, in which sound is used to redefine the perception of an existing space.
Neuhaus's installation for "Rooms" Exhibition context: The "Rooms" exhibition was the first major exhibition hosted at P.S. 1, a former school building in Long Island City, shortly after its acquisition by the Institute for Art and Urban Resources. The event featured 78 artists creating site-specific works, taking advantage of the building's various spaces before they were renovated. Characteristics of the work: Sound immersion: Neuhaus created a subtle sonic experience within one or more rooms. As in many of his installations, the sound was not an overt auditory experience, but rather an environmental "sound field" that integrated into the visitor's perception of space. Architecture and Sound: The work's dimensions vary depending on the space used, with different room sizes, according to documentation from the Max Neuhaus Estate. The work reflected Neuhaus's interest in how sound interacts with architecture to alter the perception of space. Artistic Significance: The untitled installation at P.S.1 is part of Neuhaus's series of works that expanded the concept of sculpture, using sound as the primary medium to create ephemeral, non-visual works of art. His participation in the "Rooms" exhibition was a significant moment, as it marked his emergence in the contemporary art world outside of the context of music.
Drawings describing methods for the creation of spaces which, although visually alike, are transformed into contrasting places by Neuhaus with the addition of sound alone.
A few of his notable "rooms" include:
Exhibition: Rooms, PS1, 1976
First created for the Clocktower Gallery in New York and later reconstituted at the Frac Franche-Comté in France, this was a site-specific installation focused on the acoustics of a square room. The title came from the type of chairs Neuhaus found in the space.