6 April to 6 July

Speaking Tubes is a large-scale sculptural sound installation. It is inspired by the extraordinary sound of vortex rings travelling through the atmosphere at supersonic speed. These giant air-ducting tubes and cones are made from gleaming galvanised steel and weave around the architectural space of our Nave gallery. The Speaking Tubes emit a chorus of sound into special listening zones.

A specially commissioned soundtrack has been created for Speaking Tubes by international contemporary composer Yannis Kyriakides. Audiences can move around the sculpture and enter the listening zones to make their own sound journey and become part of the sculpture.

A miniature working model of a vortex cannon will be on display to illustrate how the Speaking Tubes operate.