notes on torna
Max Parnell worked at torna as the resident artist/writer in August 2024. He was invited to work with torna small, a replica of one of old torna rooms made in 1:6th scale. The following year we published his new novella 'notes on torna'.
During his residency Max worked within a parafictional lathe workshop, emptied out to give way to an unnamed sound technician, hired by a lathe operator to soundproof her workshop and research unidentified spectral noises within the region which has been the concern of unknown neighbours and subsequently the town council.
See more on Max's residency notes below on this page or HERE and our final publication HERE.
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Isolating Movements, Measuring Atmospheres
In agreement with torna Small and Şile Municipality, Isolating Sound Agency began with an investigation into the company’s work premises located at Kızılca, 34983, Şile, İstanbul. The investigation consisted of a comprehensive series of audio measurements taken both in the air (inside and outside the premises), as well as several readings of the pipe system, walls (interior and exterior), electricity controls, windows and floors.
Condensor mic (building's exterior)
Contact microphone — tiled floor (building's interior)
Mains Electricity (building's interior)
Overhead condenser mic (building's interior)
Plumbing System (building's interior)
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Sound Treatment Panels — Construction & Installation
Set of thirty custom built sound absorption panels built for torna Small, installed in the gallery following a quality control check for each individual panel.
Built from local materials, ISA has utilised Şile fabric to seal each individual panel. Porous by nature, yet rugged enough to withstand being stretched, the locally-produced 100% cotton cloth (from which the municipality takes its name) presents itself as the ideal material with which to seal the sound absorption blocks. The traditional process involves taking the cloth and submerging it in the Black Sea, allowing it to circulate within the waters in such a way that it draws in the salt. Only once it has been sufficiently soaked is it pulled from the water and dragged onto the sand where it sits to dry in natural light. This treatment strengthens the cloth in such a way that it becomes resistant to the elements, increasing its longevity.
Due to the severe skin rashes our investigator suffered during the process of soaking the first rolls of cloth in the Black Sea, ISA and torna agreed that the remaining pieces would be soaked in a local saltwater swimming pool, ensuring the fabric underwent the necessary strengthening process. Later investigations confirmed similar cases of skin irritation among locals, along with the potential cause: a corrupted sewage pipe leaking into the Black Sea in the region’s vicinity.
Prior to the installation, ISA mounted a condenser microphone outside the gallery which was used to measure the building’s external noise levels before and after the installation. The following two samples, recorded from the same position without any manipulation of the input levels, demonstrate the perceptible reduction in noise of the lathe machines as experienced outside of the company’s premises. Further details and audio reports will be published in the coming months.
torna Small Exterior Recording During Lathe Operations Without Sound Panels
torna Small Exterior Recording During Lathe Operations With Sound Panels
torna Small Exterior Recording During Lathe Operations With and Without Sound Panels
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Landscape Investigations
In conjunction with ISA’s work at torna Small, our investigations into the cause(s) of noise pollution throughout the Şile Municipality as reported during the past six months has pointed to multiple potential sources. As investigations are still in process, and in agreement with the local municipality, no reports will be published until all cases have undergone extensive internal review.
What ISA can confirm from previous reports is the presence of severe radio interference along the coastline, along with the presence of unidentified booms in different locations and depths along Şile’s coastline. Following extensive examinations both on and offshore, ISA confirms that our hydrophones registered the presence of unnatural sonar activity, corroborating previous reports from several fishermen.
Above ground, ISA confirms the veracity of previous reports noting the presence of unidentified, low-frequency drone noises (not exceeding 100 Hz). Such noise is most notable at higher points throughout the municipality, and following reports from our investigator, is capable of inducing mild nausea and vertigo, also corroborating previous reports from various medical centres throughout the Şile Municipality.
The following audio samples offer examples of noise pollution documented by ISA during the two-week investigation, in particular the presence of a singular repeated echo (source yet to be identified).
Unidentified noises—isolated sound references:
Isolated Unidentified Noise 1
Isolated Unidentified Noise 2
Documentation of this noise, occurring at intervals of roughly 10 seconds at a series of different locations:
Possible sonar interference, registered below water along the Black Coast shoreline (depth 2-5 metres) and offshore from a small vessel (5-15 metres).
Second Sonar Example 1
Second Sonar Example 2
Second Sonar Example 2
Sonar Interference Sample 1
Sonar Interference Sample 1
Sonar Interference Sample 1
Severe disruption to radio networks registered along several onshore and offshore locations.
Radio Network Severe Disruptions
Example of low-frequency, below-ground noise pollution, registered at different locations throughout the municipality.
Below Ground Reading Sample 1
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Final Report
