Meira Asher felt constrained when she was told to stick to a specific valley for a sound art event. She wanted to make her piece a sound walk to the other side of the forest, where a 16 year old boy got killed. She worked with these creative constraints, however, and installed her sound art inside a car. I think this way of presenting her project adds more symbolism and meaning to the work than if she had done a sound walk. Cars at night are the catalyst for tragic and dangerous situations not just for this 16 year old boy, but in many incidents. I think mothers often are fearful when their children start learning to drive and start going out alone at night, so the car installation symbolizes that fear. It also gives a sense of the motherly instinct she is expressing; people may imagine someone they care about in that stuffy car and feel worried and protective as Asher expresses she feels.
The soundscape piece is so clear and crisp. It feels as if she is not only whispering into my ear, but is physically in the room with me whispering into my ear. The raspy and deep tone she is speaking in sets the mood of the piece. The recurring moments of silence add tension and are very effective. I couldn't tell if one of the sounds was of footsteps, thunder, or a heart beating, but having the somewhat constant beat throughout the piece also added tension.
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