Paul Kos

The Sound of Ice Melting, 1970

Installation, mixed technique (ice blocks, microphones, sound system, metal tray)

Two blocks of ice surrounded by eight microphones are connected to amplifiers and loudspeakers, with the aim of capturing and making audible the imperceptible sound of melting ice. This minimalist device questions our sensory perception and makes sensitive a natural phenomenon that is often ignored. With this simple gesture, Paul Kos presents the passing of time, the ephemeral and a poetics of the invisible. Seemingly silent, the work forces the viewer to listen, to hear in a different way.

This work was kindly lent by the Galerie Georges-Philippe et Nathalie Vallois

Paul Kos talks about his work with salt and ice as materials in this video from SFMOMA

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Paul Kos

Born in 1942
Based in San Francisco

A pioneer of video and installation art in the 1970s, Paul Kos quickly established himself as a central figure in San Francisco's Bay Area conceptual movement. His work, rooted in a material, poetic and even spiritual approach, frequently explores themes related to perception, time and the intersection between nature and technology. In addition to video, Paul Kos also incorporates sound and interactivity into his sculptural installations. He has also created large-scale public art installations, such as the Poetry Sculpture Garden, designed in San Francisco with poet Robert Has.