Talking Bowls from Ian Hattwick on Vimeo.
Talking Bowls took shape with the idea of polyrhythm as a metaphor for community. Polyrhythm can mean the occurrence of two rhythms that are unrelated, but can also mean rhythms which are different yet interlocking. Participants speak to the Talking Bowls through playing the bowls with suspended metal rods. The bowls listen and react in different ways. The mode of interaction depends on the decisions the bowls make as much as the input of the participant. The great british music documentary filmmaker Christopher Nupen said “we all take chances when we exchange words with other human beings.” We can never predict the outcome when we enter into a conversation with strangers- all we can do is ask the first question.