Vaal Gallery, Tallinn
interactive sound installation, 6-channel audio, HD screen media, processing computer, tracking camera, infrared camera assist light
Camera assist: Erko Ever
Actors: Mari Männa, Kelli Gedvil, Egle Ehtjen, Erko Ever, Janno Lepind, Tiina Vändre, Markus Tiitus, Kaspar Aus, Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
'Do Not Disturb' is an interactive sound installation that invites visitors to engage with a network of sound and visual events. As they move through the space, their presence triggers shifts in the audio-visual layers of the work, creating a feedback loop where each interaction alters the environment. Focusing on the act of listening, the work suggests that listening is more than passive reception – it’s an interpretive and dialogical process, revealing how our actions influence and shape the world around us.
When visitors enter the installation environment, their behavior is tracked by a camera. Subtle movements gently raise noise textures from speakers as they pass by, while abrupt or exaggerated motions trigger a reaction on the screen media. From the haze pictured on the screen, an entire cast of "listeners" emerges from their idle state, stepping forward and pressing their ears against the screen to observe the disturbance in the space. The concept draws inspiration from Estonian cultural norms, where sensitivity to noise and frowning upon excessive disturbances are deeply rooted. By intertwining these cultural observations with interactive technology, the work emphasizes the nuanced relationship between movement, sound, and the collective act of listening.
Documentation from the Üle Heli Festival exhibition "Kuulmuse keermed" at the ECCM - Estonian Centre of Contemporary Music (Pühavaimu 9, Tallinn, Estonia).