David Pohl
b. 1963, U.S.A.
Mantra, 2001
phonograph record players, record albums, various found objects.

from the Gestures show at
The Mattress Factory
Pittsburgh, PA
October 27, 2001 - December 8, 2001
Copyright © 2001 David Pohl
House of Pingting Archives

This video is a brief documentation of my installation Mantra, which was in the
first Gestures show at The Mattress Factory - 1414 Monterey Street. Pittsburgh PA
October 27, 2001 - December 8, 2001.

The idea of creating a sound installation had been in my head since 1994,
when I discovered a way to create low-tech analog audio loops by placing
a 45rpm record on top of a 33rpm record. When the needle (playing
the 33) hits the 45, it skips, creating a brief loop. An endless repetition
of the sound recording. I selected various albums including Indian sitar
and vocal music, Indonesian gamelan music, sounds of the ocean, humpback
whales, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Broadway Soundtrack
to Hair, Van Morrison's Common One and many others.

Mantra was created during the weeks following September 11th, 2001.
I wanted to create an experimental space for meditation by creating random sound currents to facilitate various meditative states within the viewer/listener. The act of creating the piece also became a devotional act for me and references the Hindu concept of Puja: devotional reverence to God or Spirit-making connection between Individual and Universal Consciousness.

Each morning I would arrive at the piece, and leave an offering on one of the
(record player) altars. Offerings included flowers, incense, ash, fruit, fire, rocks, coins, candy and a large variety of found objects. People also began to leave behind offerings. After making my offering, I would set up the mantra for the day, by creating a series of "loops" with 2-4 records playing at the same time.

Mantra
Source: Wikipedia

The Sanskrit word mantra- consists of the root man-
"to think" (also in manas "mind") and the suffix -tra meaning, tool, hence
a literal translation would be "instrument of thought". Mantras are interpreted
to be effective as sound (vibration), to the effect that great emphasis is put
on correct pronunciation (resulting in an early development of a science of
phonetics in India). They are intended to deliver the mind from illusion and
material inclinations. Chanting is the process of repeating a mantra.