Can a tool of war become a masterpiece of modern sculpture?
In short: Sculptor Conrad Shawcross examines First World War sound locators, revealing how these functional relics of early anti-aircraft defense transcend their original purpose to become striking, alien sculptural forms.
During the First World War, sound locators were engineered to track invisible enemy aircraft by detecting their acoustic signatures. These devices, which utilized wooden trumpets, tripods, and stethoscopes, were designed when the atmospheric behavior of sound waves was poorly understood. Operators struggled with significant interference, yet the technology persisted, with at least nine distinct versions produced.
Even after the emergence of radar in the 1930s, these locators remained in use during the Second World War. Shawcross highlights how these objects now appear entirely foreign, detached from their historical context of conflict. This exploration is part of the RA250 UK project, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Arts.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Conrad Shawcross RA| Parallel Lives: RA Artists and the IWM Collection
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