In his installation Camera Obscura Acustica, hans w. koch applies the optical principle of the pinhole camera to the realm of sound, creating a sensory experience that distorts both visual and auditory perceptions. The pinhole camera, known for inverting the outside world through a small aperture, serves as the foundation for this installation, but koch extends this inversion into the auditory realm.

The installation features a monitor displaying a circular field, captured in real time by a camera. Like a traditional camera obscura, the image on the screen is inverted. Simultaneously, the sounds of the environment are captured by a microphone, and, just as with the visual component, these sounds are turned upside down: low frequencies become high, and high frequencies are transformed into deep, rumbling lows. This inversion alters both the visual and auditory experiences of the viewer.

The result is an optical and acoustic camera obscura, where visitors experience the world in a strange and unfamiliar way. The usual relationship between sight and sound is disrupted, offering an altered reflection of the surrounding environment. Through this sensory manipulation, koch invites viewers to reflect on how our perception of the world is shaped by both media and technology. The installation encourages a rethinking of reality and challenges the boundaries between perception and representation.

[Based on a text by Reinhard Buskies for the installation as part of kemnade klingt 2022, edited with ChatGPT]

hans w. koch