The SONOsphère
Conveying a musical piece through vibrations to a hearing-impaired public, or through an air stream on the skin of a person suffering from a neurological disease allows them to share a unique artistic experience to which they may not have had access before.
An acoustic, tactile, interactive and stand-alone work of art
The SONOsphere is the product of two initial reflections. The first is about approaching art through sensations, and the second is about adapting art to a public which have had less access to it for whatever reason. This work is definitely in the realm of Alexandre Lévy’s original expression, benefitting from his past and ongoing musical and plastic research. This research has already produced interactive installations such as the Garden of Sensations and Miniature Gardens, where sensations become a primary modality to access art, aroused through nature and some of its essential elements (wind, the mineral and the vegetal).
Since sensations are what links beings in the whole living sphere and more particularly in the human sphere, the SONOsphere strives to offer a whole field of sensations in a user-friendly setup.
The 4 modules that make up the work have been developed in collaboration with the STORMSTUDIO design outfit and the medico-educational institute La Clef des Champs. Caregivers and patients have tested these interactive modules which put the public right inside the work of art.
The SONOsphere: A work of art for a disabled or impeded public
Financial partners :
>DRAC Ile-de-France et Rhône-Alpes
>Conseil Général 77
> Fondation Malakoff-Médéric
> CESAP – Comité d’études, d’éducation et de soins auprès des personnes polyhandicapées
>La Fougeraie (69)
>FRANCE ACTIVE
Working partners :
>La Clé des Champs - Maison d’Accueil Spécialisée (MAS) (77)
>La Fougeraie – Etablissement de santé (69)
>GRAME CNCM – Centre National de Création Musicale (69)
>AFILE 77 – France ACTIVE
>Le Lieu du Design (75)
>Storm Studio (75) - Cabinet de design industriel
SONOsphère : official partners
Soundbox
The Soundbox is an interactive sandbox which can be filled with any vegetal or mineral matter that can be hand kneaded. Each time a hand is moved inside the box, rubbing sounds are heard; the grains of sand or other matter particles transform into evocations of far-away and aquatic worlds. Vibrations from the users’ movements are picked up and trigger sounds to complement the water sound world.
Singing Umbrellas
An interactive umbrella is suspended above the public. Vines hang from each umbrella. Movements from the audience trigger sounds reminiscent of vegetation. Each stir of a vine causes participants to experience shivering sounds. These include: biting, reactive, chewing sounds, mouth sounds, crackling twigs...
Wind Garden
A set of semi-vegetal shoots are lifted by a gentle air flow. A mini-fan blows a light and continuous breeze. Some shoots are equipped with capacitive sensors that make them “sensitive”. Crackling sounds can be heard which transform into crystalline and shimmering sounds whenever caressed.
Dream Pillows
An interactive pillow ushers the participants into a sound world that is sacred-sounding and offers complementary elements: airy breathing, a far-away and hazy call, a calming and discrete flute ensemble. This installation is all about polyphony and its variations. The various pieces of the musical content of the pillow complement and interweave, creating a world of calm and tranquility. The pillow essentially “breathes” music and light.
The SONOsphere: Serving Patients and Caregivers
The Goals of the Sonosphere
> To alleviate discriminative access to culture for people with disabilities or otherwise impeded.
> To develop interpersonal rapports (patient – family – caregivers) beyond daily life needs (meals – health care – etc.).
> To stimulate motility, memory and emotions through music and interaction.
> To arouse emotions (serenity – appeasement – joy – curiosity – fun…) by playing with an art object.
> To provide a stand-alone work of art that can be used daily within a care institution.
> To give caregivers a new tool that enriches the social aspect of the institution.
The SONOsphere: A stand-alone object
The SONOsphere intends to be a stimulation and entertainment tool for patients and their caregivers.
The SONOsphere works entirely in a stand-alone mode within the institution. Health service personnel deploy and make use of the SONOsphere in the daily lives of those for whom it was intended.
The care institution personnel may invite artists related to our structure to offer patients special events around the SONOsphere: workshops – performances – education – creation of a customized musical world.
The SONOsphere: Training sessions for caregivers
SONOsphere Level 1
Presentation of the SONOsphere and of the basics for using it (body behavior, listening postures, sensation sharing). How to develop a workshop session with the public, key pedagogical points, extended possibilities.
(10 people / 1 trainer / Duration: 3 hours)
SONOsphere Level 2
Using the SONOsphere in “open” mode. Introduction to sound recording with the SONOsphere’s microphone. Setting up and placing custom sounds in the installation. Presentation of the Internet connection to the EPSONIK Creations Web site; downloading and installing new sounds to the SONOsphere.
(10 people / 1 trainer / Duration: 1 hour)
Musical creation, sensations and environment.
How to re-invent the audio environment of a care institution in a creative way.
(10 people / 1 trainer / Duration: 1 hour)