This page documents our project’s test phase, which consisted of three trials in the Art [&&] Impact course for the installation “Space is only noise if you can see.” It includes the concept description, the three trials, and an overall conclusion.
Our statement is: “The abundance of noise in modern society stimulates our curiosity but ultimately makes us seek isolation from the chaos.”
Our installation uses visual and auditory noise to influence one’s emotional state. Noise surrounds us constantly and cannot be avoided. Still, by exploring the sense of loneliness it can create, the installation aims to reflect on discomfort and the potential for personal growth. The emotions we have tried to evoke through our trials are isolation, fear, stress, shame, calm and reflection. By triggering negative emotions, we aim to create an installation that allows viewers to adopt a balanced and positive view of solitude, recognising it as a space for introspection and development.
The installation “Space is only noise if you can see” will consist of a passive immersive walk-through experience consisting of three boxes that will create an emotional build-up and provide an opportunity for reflection. The viewer will have to put their head inside the box, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the experience without any external distractions. Trials 1 & 2 tested the first two “boxes” and their effect. The first trial created visual and audio noise to influence the participants’ emotional state; the second trial was to see how the participants would react to videos about world problems like climate change, hunger, meat production, et cetera. The third trial combined visual and audio noise to influence the participants’ emotional state.
The third trial was, therefore, a combination of the first two trials, with the addition of a third ‘box’ being a mirror to allow participants to reflect on their experience. In the following, the three trials are discussed in detail and summarised in a general conclusion.
During this test, the focus was on how people react when exposed to auditory noise, like whispers and noises, while facing visual noise. Noise-cancelling headphones were placed on the table. The participants were not told what the headphones were for. They could put on the headphones with soothing music if they felt the need to explore what the headphones would do and/or dissociate from the situation. This test aimed to prepare for the final installation while studying the user’s reactions and feelings during and after the installation.
To achieve this, it was necessary to understand how human emotions are directly influenced by hearing and sight. An unsettling visual factor directly influences the way emotions work. Participants felt more uneasy about the “creepy” whispers because of the visual interference and then felt more content and calm with the same visuals while listening to calming music. This test has successfully proven how sight and hearing directly influence each other and human emotions.
We chose to test whether the participant puts on headphones and their reasoning for doing so. Multiple screens playing audible and visual noise were set up to achieve this. Three speakers were added to reproduce whispers from several directions. The participant sat down in a darkened room behind the table, and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones playing calming, “ethereal” music was placed on the table before they entered. Observations and answers to questions were noted and are attached below.
Trial set-up
Trial set-up with participant
We wanted to grasp the users’ feelings properly, so we asked them many questions about how the experience affected them. Some of the questions asked are :