The Modal Gallery at Manchester Metropolitan University is proud to present Sound Pressure, a thought-provoking group exhibition that explores the power and influence of sound systems. Featuring works from renowned artists such as AUDINT, DeForrest Brown Jnr., Lawrence Abu Hamden, Sophie Trudeau of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and more, Sound Pressure investigates how sonic, infrasonic, and ultrasonic frequencies impact us physically, psychologically, and socially.
Through a mix of immersive artworks, music compilations, and critical texts, the exhibition delves into how sound systems are traditionally used for entertainment, public information, and health purposes, while also examining their potential for more insidious uses like manipulation and political control. The exhibition occupies four striking “international orange” structures, each presenting a combination of commissioned texts, playlists, and multimedia artworks that challenge our perceptions of sound and pressure in both everyday and extraordinary contexts.
Curated by Matt Williams, Valentino Catricalà, and Toby Heys, Sound Pressure offers a transdisciplinary and visually compelling experience that questions how sound systems affect our emotional states and social environments, ultimately redefining our understanding of pressure in the modern world.
