Brian Eno's light-up turntable changes colour in "complex and unpredictable" patterns

Ambient music pioneer Bian Eno is exhibiting an updated version of his illuminated record player composed of two eccentric Perspex circles at London's Paul Stolper Gallery. Like its predecessor, released in 2021, Turntable II consists of a platter and base made of translucent acrylic, each fitted with LED lights that are programmed to change colour The post Brian Eno's light-up turntable changes colour in "complex and unpredictable" patterns appeared first on Dezeen.

Feb 15, 2024 - 18:21
Brian Eno's light-up turntable changes colour in "complex and unpredictable" patterns
Hands holding up glowing Turntable II by Brian Eno for Paul Stolper Gallery

Ambient music pioneer Bian Eno is exhibiting an updated version of his illuminated record player composed of two eccentric Perspex circles at London's Paul Stolper Gallery.

Like its predecessor, released in 2021, Turntable II consists of a platter and base made of translucent acrylic, each fitted with LED lights that are programmed to change colour independently.

Brian Eno looking at light-up record player
Brian Eno has designed a new version of his light-up turntable

Thousands of tiny holes drilled into the plastic allow light to emanate from the record player, creating gradients where the two layers overlap.

The colour of the lights and the speed at which they change is programmed to change randomly, creating a nearly endless spectrum of "colourscapes".

Side view of Turntable II at Paul Stolper Gallery
It consists of a circular platter and base that are illuminated independently

"Several overlapping light cycles will keep producing different colour balances and blends – and different shadow formations that slowly evolve and never exactly repeat," Eno said.

"I've never ceased to be fascinated by the amazingly intricate, complex and unpredictable results produced by simple deterministic systems," he continued.

"Out of simplicity, complexity arises. That is for me the most incredible idea of evolution theory."

The turntable is distinguished from its forebearer by a matt-white tonearm and a circular base, which echoes the shape of the platter holding the vinyl record above.

Produced as a limited edition of 150, the record player is on display at Paul Stolper Gallery in London's Bloomsbury until 9 March 2024.

Overhead view of yellow and blue illuminated record player by Brian Eno
The lights create a colour gradient across the surface of the record player

Eno, who is credited as one of the founding fathers of ambient music, first started experimenting with combining light and sound while attending art school in the late 1960s.

Since then, he has created a series of light box artworks for Paul Stolper and collaborated with British architect Asif Khan on the UK's energy-themed pavilion at the Astana Expo 2017 in Kazakhstan,

Green and red illuminated record player at Paul Stolper Gallery
A white tonearm distinguishes the design from its predecessor

"I started using light and video because I wanted to make visual experiences that had some of the qualities of musical experiences – that's to say, that existed and changed in time," Eno explained.

"I wanted to make very slowly changing paintings, to blur the edges that separate those different forms."

The photography is Luke Walker.

The post Brian Eno's light-up turntable changes colour in "complex and unpredictable" patterns appeared first on Dezeen.

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