The aural fair Fiera del Suono explores the possibilities of combining and applying cutting-edge media technologies. The patented, interactive 360° sound system usomo is experienceable for the first time together with a static system.
The history of amusement fairs is the subject of the collaborative research project and sound-based installation “Fiera del Suono” conceived and developed by the Dutch media art collective DROPSTUFF MEDIA together with the Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision, Tilburg City Museum and student groups from three universities. It is part of the larger project “The Fair Grounds“, ongoing since 2017. The award-winning project includes several interactive installations that merge real-life fair rides and objects with Virtual Reality and other innovative technologies.
As a research project with iterative design, the aural fair “Fiera del Suono” explores the possibilities of combining and applying cutting-edge media technologies in order to bring cultural heritage to a wide audience. usomo by FRAMED immersive projects plays an active role in the research, finding new ways to integrate their patented 360° interactive sound system with other systems. For the first time ever, the fluid usomo system is experienceable by means of open headphones together with a static sound system. While one sound layer plays out on a group of speakers installed throughout the space, another sound layer is heard interactively on the usomo headphones dependent on the individual position and movement of each visitor. The audio material has been gathered from local archives and private collections. Additionally, new voice-overs have been recorded. The student groups, already having participated in developing the storyline, will at a later point conduct audience research and suggest design modifications.
“Fiera del Suono” premiered at the Tilburg Fair 2023, which is with more than one million visitors per year one of the largest public events in the Netherlands, continuing on to the art festival Big Art in Amsterdam showcasing large-scale sculptures and art installations as well as a number of other locations throughout the Netherlands.
Credits
Website
dropstuff.nl
Client
DROPSTUFF MEDIA, Hilversum
Concept and production
René van Engelenburg and Gijs ten Cate
Art direction
Thomas de Bres
Music arrangement
Yannick Verhoeven und Brian Oomens
Sound archives
Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, Hilversum
Regional Archive Tilburg
Peter Hofland
Spatial sound concept, spatial sound production, planning and integration of the usomo sound system
usomo by FRAMED immersive projects, Berlin
Duration
Travelling exhibition from 2023 to 2024
Photos
1, 5 © Pierre Banoori for DROPSTUFF MEDIA
2-4 © FRAMED immersive projects
