Watch In?

Watch in? is a listening application that aifoon developed for the Permekemuseum in Jabbeke. The listening application consists of an AudioCollier, a pendant with a speaker that the museum visitor carries around his neck. The speaker plays a sound composition through which the visitor enters into an audiovisual relationship with the work of Permeke.

The sound composition dictates nothing; it makes suggestions, it teases and questions, and it activates the associative frameworks of the visitors. By wearing the AudioCollier the visitor becomes a listener as well as a performer and a composer who also determines the experience of the other visitors. Different visitors, each with an AudioCollier, become a walking surround system.

There were three different compositions based on a number of themes: Niobe, Labor and Epifanie. Not everyone had to wear an AudioCollier and visitors who preferred to visit the collection without auditory interference could get earplugs at the desk.

This work is a continuation of the listening walk Watch Out! that aifoon developed for Atelier De Stad (Canvas) in the context of Expeditie Dansand ! (Vrijstaat O), where visitors took a walk through various acoustic environments equipped with a backpack with built-in speaker.

Credits

• concept and composition: Stijn Dickel / aifoon
• design: Sofie Rosseel