“An interesting tech direction that uses sound instead of motion to create tons of room for experimentation and play. I’d love to experience it live to truly understand the scale and emotional weight of the sound.” —Marissa Franke
“The use of sound to power these interactive artworks really stands out even when viewing them secondhand through a screen. The power of the visuals and sound combined is striking.” —Nathan Riley
Overview: A series of audio-focused digital artworks by Montréal-based creative studio Iregular, NEST reconsiders the relationship between sound, presence and encounter in digital art by taking a radically different direction to interaction. As visitors enter a space where NEST is installed, they are met with the dense buzzing of flying insects. When they move around the space, the insects react instantly to these intrusions. Developed using Iregular’s sound location technology SONAR, NEST utilizes a proprietary tracking system, directional ultrasonic speakers, robotic arms and sound design to create a modular sound experience that can fit any context, space and size specifications.
Comments by Daniel Iregui:
Where did the inspiration for NEST come from? “Conceptually, NEST reflects on the complex and fragile relationship between humans and nature. When the installation is left undisturbed, it behaves like a calm, balanced habitat. As soon as visitors enter, the colony reacts: its patterns become agitated and defensive, mirroring the instinctive behaviors of insect ecosystems when confronted with intruders. The piece becomes a negotiation of presence and respect, where humans momentarily experience the world from another species’ perspective.”
Did you meet with any obstacles during development? “One of NEST’s fundamental goals was to produce a powerful audio experience without adding noise pollution to the surrounding environment. To achieve this, we developed a system capable of locating the exact position of a visitor’s ears in space and directing a precise beam of sound only to them.
“However, our first prototype produced more noise than the artwork itself. Its motors were too loud, completely defeating the purpose of the project. Our solution came when we finally sourced motors quiet enough to disappear into the experience. Once integrated, the technology performed exactly as intended, allowing NEST to deliver hyperfocused audio without disturbing the environment around it. This discovery unlocked the rest of the project and enabled the artwork to function as the sound-focused piece we envisioned.”
How did this project compare with others you’ve worked on in the past? “For many years, our practice has centered on visual-first artworks for which sound is composed in response. Because no inspiring sound-delivery solutions existed, we decided to take matters into our own hands. SONAR and NEST inverted the equation and opened a new creative path for us, broadening our understanding of what digital art can be.”
