Témenos, a site specific sound installation, occupied the deconsecrated church of San Giovanni in northern Italy during October 2019. With an interest in resonating landscapes and resonating spaces, MADWORKSHOP Fellow Sofia Boarino, took visitors on a transcendent journey with a nuanced combination of simplicity and the serene sound of her voice. Nested inside the soaring Renaissance chapel, the installation of white translucent fabric extends down from the vaulted ceiling to create an iconic and alluring new interior space. The juxtaposition between the ancient church and the ethereal timeless intervention, captivates the eye and draws the visitor closer.

Once inside, the space defies its compact floor plan, dissolving into a perception of the boundless and infinite. Témenos cultivates an unexpected Ganzfeld effect – where a field of uniform illuminated color amplifies the senses, promoting heightened perception, empathy, and relaxation. Témenos, a Greek word referring to a portion of the sky or a sacred enclousre, strives to achieve just that – a pause in the city, a place for every human to draw closer to the highest degree of their thoughts, feelings, and emotions through introspection, art, and song. After passing through a wall of fabric, a single visitor will encounter Sofia and her guitarist. Each guest will take a seat on the opposite side of the small, light-soaked room to experience their private concert for one. As the music and light wash over them, the visitor moves from space to sky – a single voice the tether between heaven and earth.

Video:
PLANE–SITE
Special thanks to Riccardo Blumer

© MADWORKSHOP 2019