Sum of Days, an environmental and participatory installation by the Brazilian artist Carlito Carvalhosa (born 1961), is a complex, elliptical network of pathways through a structure of translucent white fabric. This engaging structure in the Marron Atrium, and the experience of immersion it creates, evoke a heightened perception of the surrounding space. A system of microphones hang at various heights and record ambient noise; each day’s sound is combined with the previous days’ recordings and played back through several speakers inside the structure. As each new layer of audio is added, the oldest noises gradually diminish into whispers, part of an auditory condensation that builds up throughout the duration of the exhibition. As its title suggests, Sum of Days thus constitutes a layering of time—an immaterial auditory record of the sound inherent in everyday experience.

Musical performances, each sixty to ninety minutes long, take place weekly in the installation between September 8 and November 10. The performers are Lisa Bielawa, David Crowell, Jon Gibson, Philip Glass, Carla Kihlstedt, Michael Riesman, Mick Rossi, and Andrew Sterman. Times are announced via MoMA’s Twitter account (@MuseumModernArt) on the day of the event. The piano is provided by Steinway & Sons.

More about the exhibition

Exhibition Credits

Organized by Luis Pérez-Oramas, The Estrellita Brodsky Curator of Latin American Art, and Geaninne Gutiérrez-Guimarães, Curatorial Assistant, The Museum of Modern Art.

Itaú
The exhibition is made possible in part by Itaú Unibanco.

Generous support is provided by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Safra.

Additional funding is provided by The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art, Ms. Cleusa Garfinkel, Regina Pinho de Almeida, and an anonymous donor.

Website Credits

Luis Pérez-Oramas, The Estrellita Brodsky Curator of Latin American Art
Geaninne Gutiérrez-Guimarães, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Drawings

Department of Digital Media

Allegra Burnette, Creative Director
Dan Phiffer, Digital Media Developer
Shannon Darrough, Senior Media Developer
David Hart, Media Producer

Audio

Mike Gibbons
Lucas Gonzales
Charlie Kalinowski
Jim Toth

Special thanks to Carlito Carvalhosa and his team: Hélio Bartsch, Daniel Carvalho, Juan Castro Cordeiro, Clara Cavour, Bernard Ceppas, Carolina da Veiga, João Rivera Monteiro, Gabriel Netto, Mari Stockler, and Daniel Wagner

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