White Room is an interdisciplinary performance-installation in which the audience's presence actively shapes the experience. As the audience moves through the arranged objects, they become a dynamic part of the installation, directly confronting the central themes of power and control. This journey invites a personal reflection on the nature of individual influence, or lack thereof, within societal systems. The installation functions as a microcosm of society, revealing how individual choices and actions can either uphold or resist dominant narratives and power dynamics. This project seeks to illuminate how people often unconsciously consent to the narratives of the ruling class, thereby relinquishing control over their perspectives and viewpoints. The goal is to heighten awareness of these dynamics and inspire active engagement in dismantling the status quo.
Each area within the White Room is associated with specific musical material intended for the musicians. Throughout the entire installation experience, static electronic sounds provide a continuous sonic layer. The musicians then contribute additional sonic elements, effectively layering their performance on top of the electronic soundscape. Musicians receive specific instructions on how to interpret and perform the written musical passages linked to each zone. These performance cues are often triggered or informed by the LED signals, which correspond to audience activity detected by the photoresistors in the different zones. It is highly advisable for musicians to memorize their score and avoid using music stands, as this can reduce the effectiveness of the experience.
As illustrated in the layout, the installation space is divided into four distinct zones. Each of these zones has a specific name (Neutral, Propaganda, Questioning, and Investigating). However, these names are used only for the purpose of organizing and explaining the installation's structure and mechanisms. The audience is not meant to know these designations.
All the live instrument samples are recorded and performed by the artist.
Please note that this audio sample is just a simple mockup of how the installation experience might sound like.
This recording was made at the artist's studio and does not accurately represent the installation's layout and space. The purpose of this mockup is to demonstrate how interactions with the objects will look and how they affect the visuals and sounds. The programs used are Max and Ableton.
Description:
On the right side, you see two videos playing, which represent the videos on screen 01 and screen 02 in the installation space. During the installation, the buttons, knobs, and sensors will not all be located together as they are in this demonstration. They will be positioned in different areas. However, in this example, they show their functions with glitching effects, as well as the sound effects they produce.
These images below show that audience members control some aspects of the sound and visuals.
