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Genelec provides audio for Baltic’s ‘Manual Labour’ sculpture show

Genelec's 8330 speakers power Hannah Perry's current art show exploring motherhood at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle, UK, which combines sound, sculpture, and film

Genelec’s 8330 studio loudspeakers have provided the audio for a bold new exhibition by British artist Hannah Perry at Gateshead’s iconic Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (Baltic), a repurposed flour mill along the scenic Quayside in Newcastle, in Northeast England. Opened in 2002 as part of a local regeneration effort, the gallery has hosted work from celebrated artists including Yoko Ono, and Anish Kapoor. Now, Baltic has worked once again with integrator ArtAV to showcase new art.

Perry’s Baltic debut, Manual Labour, brings her exploration of motherhood to life in a richly layered, immersive experience. The installation, which runs until March 16th, 2025, combines sound, sculpture, and film, to probe the physical and emotional weight of labour. Her mechanical sculpture, choreographed to evoke the strain and rhythm of manual work, is paired with a film that explores the personal and collective dimensions of motherhood. Through textures, reflective imagery, spoken word, and sound, the piece invites viewers into a contemplative journey.

Simon Weightman, project manager at ArtAV explained that Perry’s exhibition, housed in Baltic’s Level 4 gallery, called for a powerful sound solution that was also visually subtle. At the heart of the exhibition is a 12.1 Genelec sound system, comprising twelve 8330 loudspeakers and a 7070 subwoofer. Each loudspeaker emits a unique soundscape – from deep rumbles to ringing chimes and piano music – supported by advanced ambisonic audio techniques.

Genelec’s GLM loudspeaker management software intelligently fine-tunes the frequency response, playback level and distance delay of each loudspeaker to compensate for the gallery’s unique acoustics, delivering clarity and intelligibility wherever the listener is located.

A long-standing collaborator with Baltic, ArtAV specialises in integrating audiovisual components into artistic presentations. Weightman explained: “Artists want the technology to serve their art without drawing attention away from it. Genelec loudspeakers are perfect – they look elegant, and can fill the gallery without dominating it. Their design allows for clarity in complex soundscapes, whether it’s ambient noise or music, both of which were central to this exhibition.”

Kyle Partridge, ArtAV’s technician who played an active role in the project, added: “Genelec loudspeakers are a natural fit for exhibitions since artists are already familiar with them from their studio work. Their compact design and excellent acoustic performance filled the space beautifully, and the GLM software enabled us to calibrate each speaker quickly – a major advantage for installations. We were on a tight schedule as Hannah wanted to make last-minute adjustments to the audio files. Having tools like GLM is invaluable, as it gives artists the flexibility to refine their work right up to the finish line.”