Ohrdrone

A drone in sonic terms is the least memorable type of music produced and yet in terms of duration it manifests gently over time through subtle variations. The drone in military terms is a technology which surveils, exposes, and punishes the actions of those in a public space. OHRDRONE is a research group founded to examine the proliferation of drones, and our potential for love and compassion for these drones as a disempowering force.

The OHRDRONE group (Oliver Blank & Toby Heys) built the first Drone Chamber in 2013. An old chapel in Slovenia was converted into a place to venerate drones. Visitors found the remnants of an urban cargo cult: a hand-made wooden drone effigy on a plinth, alongside three ghetto-blasters playing endlessly looping cassette tapes of prepared drone sounds.

The second Drone Chamber was constructed in Windsor, Ontario, at Broken City Labs' Civic Space on February 1st 2014. The Drone Chamber was a fully-functioning contemplative space. Alongside a new drone effigy of a military UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), there were also Drone Hearings: services in which the community could gather together to build compassion for the drone.

*Drone Chamber #2, Windsor, Ontario, 2014*

*Civic Space, location of the second Drone Chamber*

*Drone Chamber #2: UAV effigy close-up #2*

*Drone Chamber #2: the OHRDRONE Research Group symbol*