Client: Iregular

Overview

NEST is a sound-focused digital artwork that changes the way we are used to experiencing interactive art.

Adaptable to any context, space, and size specifications, this modular piece draws inspiration from the harmonious formations perceived in nature and the instinctive defence mechanisms of insect colonies as humans approach their natural habitat.

Upon entering the room, people notice a buzzing sound coming from a colony of insects flying in harmony. As they curiously get closer to the central NEST, their human presence disrupts the natural peace which activates the experience: it is the insects’ turn to disturb the visitors until they step away from their habitat.

This project is the first to use SONAR, our new sound location technology. Combining our proprietary tracking system, directional ultrasonic speakers from Holosonics, robotic arms, and a very specific sound design, we can now create sound experiences that follow participants and expose every person in the very same room to a different sonic reality.

Goals

NEST is born from our commitment to push the boundaries of audio, an often-overlooked feature of interactive experiences.

Audio design takes up 50% of the importance of all the artworks we create at Iregular. Because it’s not visible however, it is the visual aspect that often ends up in the limelight. It is crucial to keep in mind that we produce AUDIOvisual experiences; without the audio, the experience loses a lot in impact and quality. In our 14 years of experience in public art, we’ve come to realize that we cannot fully explore sound as there has always been a struggle with its use in public spaces. We often need to adjust and lower its levels or cut it altogether depending on the context and location.

Our new sound-location technology, SONAR, answers all these concerns, and NEST is the first project to incorporate and showcase the capabilities of this technology.

NEST is more than a display of technological prowess; it's a bold exploration of how sound can redefine the boundaries of digital art and create full-blown multi-sensory experiences. With this project, we invite audiences to immerse themselves in an environment where technology and art are completely intertwined, offering a glimpse into the future of what interactive art can be.

Process

It all initially started with the desire to break free from the restrictions imposed on sound in public art experiences. We always want to push our interactive artworks to the limit, and we knew there was a way to achieve that with sound too. After developing our own tracking system for the visual aspect of our experiences (CURSOR), we decided to delve into the realm of sound and develop a solution ourselves. In 2022, we obtained funding through the support of the Canada Media Fund who saw real promise in our project, and the entire Iregular tech team went on a technology development craze for 2 years.

In order to showcase the capabilities of this now fully functioning technology, we developed a simple yet impactful scenography that puts sound at the forefront. This how NEST was born.

NEST was first officially launched at SXSW in March 2024.

Additional Information

Since it's very recent reveal, NEST has already been presented at SXSW (Austin, TX), Composite #38 (Montreal), and currently at the Elektra Gallery (Montreal) as part of the official programming of the International Digital Art Biennal (BIAN).