Leesa & Nicole Abahuni

“Cu”

I.D.E.A.London, ICA, 10-17 June 2005

In response to the territorial challenge that the project 

I.D.E.A.London had encountered on the premises of the ICA, 

the two artists Leesa and Nicole Abahuni introduced a sound 

installation that brilliantly captures the complexities of 

conceptually and physically squatting a prominent institute, 

such as the ICA. Sound, this ephemeral thing, becomes a 

symbolic representation of what this project’s IDEALS 

stand for; an instantaneous call, or criticism, barely 

visible, hardly detectable, and yet politicized enough 

to create a “stir”. 

The sound installation “Cu” is comprised of copper wires, 

microphone elements, amplifier and a speaker. These sculptural 

elements are picking up the activity of the electrical 

currents running through the ICA building, and transmitting 

it aurally.  The copper wires are suspended mid-air, and 

placed in a location that would be frequently accessed by 

people.  At the thickness of a strand of hair, the bare 

copper wires become practically undetectable, yet glitter 

under spotted light, creating an invisible/visible contrast. 

Its aural presence emphasizes the constant activity of 

energy and information passed through the building as 

electricity.  

Their investigation within this project has led them to 

reveal ‘territorialized’ aspects of the institution and 

claims of hierarchy. It has delved deep into notions of 

the “contemporary” and the ‘awareness’ which is key to 

it, within an institution that claims this concept. 

Aesthetic appreciation has been scrutinized. Positioning 

of artists, their relation within institutions and with 

people who claim not to be part of it, has been tested. 

This ‘sound’ has vibrated enough to make an earthquake 

within its own realm.  

Leesa and Nicole Abahuni are artists and twins from New 

York who collaborate on the investigation of the senses 

and the exploration of the interrelationships between 

the visual, aural, and tactile realms.

They have exhibited nationally and internationally including 

the 6th International Arts Biennial of Sharjah, UAE; 

Siggraph Digital Arts Festival , Los Angeles; Sonic 

Interactions Conference, London; Redux,

London; Gallery Mouri, Tokyo; Orb//Remote, Copenhagen; 

Half Machine Festival, Copenhagen; EYEBEAM Atelier, NYC; 

DUMBO Arts Festival, Brooklyn; DUMBO Arts Center, Brooklyn, 

67 Gallery, Brooklyn; Deep Listening Space, Kingston, NY; 

The Kitchen Street Fair, NYC. They have had solo performances 

includes The New York Hall of Science, Queens, in 2000.

They have received awards and grants from the Experimental 

Television Center, NY, International Postgraduate Scholarship, 

Goldsmiths College, London, UK, Alumni Scholarship Award, 

School of Visual Arts, NY, Award of Distinction, School 

of Visual Arts, NY.

For more info visit: http://www.abahuni.org