Genelec Smart IP Loudspeakers Enhance Lubaina Himid Art Installation at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge
Having collaborated with Himid and Stawarska on past projects, AV system design specialists, ArtAV were entrusted with planning and integrating a temporary Genelec sound system to provide an intimate and detailed instrumental soundtrack. “The primary intention was to deliver a high-quality playback, four-channel spatial audio experience that complemented the visual artwork, while overcoming significant acoustic challenges,” says Kyle Partridge, lead project engineer at ArtAV. “The gallery space has hard, untreated walls, which are far from ideal for audio and can result in problematic reflections, so we needed to design a system that could maintain clarity and precision at low volumes.
“Our previous work with the artists has given us a deep understanding of their artistic approach, allowing us to tailor our system designs to meet their creative and technical needs,” Partridge continues. “Four 4420 Smart IP loudspeakers were chosen to address the unique demands of the exhibition. The built-in DSP functions allow the loudspeakers to be finely tuned, which is essential for reducing unwanted frequencies and resonance to ensure the audio remains immersive and faithful to the artist’s original recordings, even at low volumes.”
A key requirement of the system was the flexibility to mix and refine audio on site — which proved to be essential in the later stages of the installation. “Magda wanted to make subtle adjustments to the balance and dynamic range of the piece after experiencing it in the gallery setting,” he reveals. “As the Smart IP system is connected through a single network cable, she was able to make quick, precise adjustments in real time, optimising how the sound filled the gallery and interacted with the architecture.”
In addition to their audio requirements, Himid and Stawarska had equally clear intentions for the visual integration of the loudspeakers. “To match the surrounding artwork, custom Zinc Yellow RAL-coloured loudspeakers were mounted directly onto the gallery walls, becoming part of the display rather than competing with it,” notes Partridge. The single cable setup and compact form factor of the 4420s further supported the minimal aesthetic that Kettle’s Yard is known for, allowing the technology to effortlessly blend into the artistic narrative.
“I would like to thank Rob Davies at Audiologic for his invaluable support in supplying the loudspeakers,” adds Partridge. “The process of ordering the custom RAL-coloured models was smooth and efficient, ensuring a seamless commissioning phase. That level of support played a vital role in the project’s success.”
The result was a sound system that elevated and embodied the vision of Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska. “From my conversations with audiences, I received excellent feedback about not only the sound quality, but also how the yellow loudspeakers became a vital part of the project,” says Magda Stawarska. “Although we were exploring the complexities of correspondence, dialogue, language, and identity, we were also playful with the tools we used to do so.”
With audio clarity and a bold design, the Smart IP loudspeakers invited audiences to experience sound and vision as one cohesive artwork, proving that technology can both serve and enhance the creative narrative.
The Details
Client
LUBAINA HIMID PROJECTS - Kettle’s Yard
Integrator
ArtAV Ltd.
Genelec Distributor
Audiologic
Loudspeakers
4 x 4420A RAL - Zinc Yellow
Network & Control
Dante AVIO Analogue Input Adaptor
NETGEAR GS316EP
TP-Link AX1502WR
