Sonic Days 2024

The fact that auditory processing is realised not only through the ear but also in the brain allows us to imagine sounds from various stimuli, such as images, thoughts, or dreams with a vividness comparable to real-world sound experiences. This phenomenon is particularly explicit in non-acoustic exhibits, where the absence of sound becomes a catalyst for visitor’s imaginative auditory experiences and personal narratives. The silence inherent in these exhibits serves as a blank canvas, inviting viewers to paint their own sonic landscapes. Some artists deliberatively create works that engage our auditory senses through visual means effectively transmitting sound or music without acoustic stimuli. Such works innovatively invoke sound’s phenomena, with resonances that emerge vividly from the visual imagery.
This presentation delves into the complex interplay between visual art and imagined sound within museum contexts. By examining works from Christian Marclay and Geneviève Cadieux, alongside installations from popular music exhibitions, I will demonstrate the potential of non-acoustic exhibits to evoke powerful auditory perceptions in the mind. These case studies illuminate how artists and museum curators can skillfully manipulate visual elements to stimulate auditory imagination, crafting rich multisensory experiences in the absence of physical sound. I will also demonstrate how, when the right stimuli are given, silence can paradoxically become a canvas for signfiicant sonic experiences.