attune to
An interactive installation that reveals invisible sound vibrations through continuous tuning.
attune to is an interactive installation that makes the physical structure of sound visible.
Visitors rotate a steering wheel to continuously tune sound frequencies, causing sand on a vibrating surface to reorganise into geometric formations known as Chladni patterns. Through gradual adjustment and observation, an otherwise invisible phenomenon becomes directly perceptible.
Rather than presenting a fixed outcome, the installation invites exploration. Patterns continuously emerge, dissolve, and transform, encouraging participants to discover the relationship between sound, vibration, and matter for themselves.
The project emerged from my master's thesis research into how contemporary technologies shape human attention and participation.
Throughout the research, a recurring observation emerged: as systems become more automated, the physical consequences of our actions often become less visible. attune to was developed as a response to this condition.
Here, cause and effect remain directly linked. Small adjustments to frequency immediately influence the behaviour of the material, encouraging sustained attention, experimentation, and active participation.
The installation is built around a square acrylic plate driven by an exciter mounted underneath. As visitors tune frequencies between 80 and 600 hertz, the sand reorganises into a wide variety of Chladni patterns.
As the material gradually falls from the vibrating surface, it collects in a bowl below and can be returned using a scoop. Maintenance therefore becomes part of the interaction itself. The installation is accessible from all sides and invites both individual and shared exploration.
