Stories

Oscillations

Series

From heartbeats to brainwaves, economic cycles to cosmic orbits, oscillations can be found everywhere. This podcast takes artists and listeners deep into the Powerhouse Collection (opens in new tab) of half a million objects to unearth stories about the vibrations, fluctuations, and movements woven through our world – and beyond it.

Button with concave back, consisting of a garter band with the inscription "ABORIGINES/ VR" within, surmounted by a crown. The reverse of the button, has a loop for attachment and is inscribed "NEW HOLLAND" Ex Sir John Ferguson & L. Barton collections.

The Moral Frontier

Oscillations – Season 1, Episode 1

Space debris, Skylab space station, titanium/fibreglass, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co, USA, 1970-1972. The fragment is the end cap from pressurised oxygen tank from the Skylab space station. Originally the end of an enclosed cylinder, the titanium tank structure is torn and bent as a result of the stresses that ripped it away from the rest of the vessel. The exterior is covered by a composite insulation material with a woven fibreglass outer surface. A circular lid, protruding above the external insulation, covers an access hatch to the tank. A black and red wire, possibly originally connected to an external power source or sensor, is attached to the lid.

Stellar Nullius

Oscillations – Season 1, Episode 2

Push to Walk

Oscillations – Season 1, Episode 3

A Radiating Body

Oscillations – Season 1, Episode 4

Radiesthesia

Oscillations – Season 1, Episode 5

Mutual Obligation

Oscillations – Season 1, Episode 6

Three round discs of various sizes laid flat. The smallest is brass lens cap with a cream ribbon attached to it. The second largest is black leather.

Hard Read

Oscillations – Season 1, Episode 7