Sound-Lines is an interactive sound sculpture composed of sensors that trigger archived sounds and animated words. The project was inspired by an ancient database and references a specific historical artifact called the Khipu or Quipu (a 13th century Incan device used for recording data). Inspired by this device, the collaborating artists created a 21st century database compiled of descriptive words and sounds that animate on a screen when there is human interaction. A sound and associated word/phrase, coded to be drawn at random from a database, is triggered each time a visitor touches a sensor. This animated word/phrase is projected on a paper screen. Over time the word/phrase diminishes and evolves into a single line. Thus each visitor leaves a mark. If the sensors are not engaged, the viewer will see a series of white lines, the visitors’ marks, on the paper.

Sound-Lines, a collaborative project, was supported by the creative initiative e-MobiLArt (European Mobile Lab for Interactive Media Artists). Collaborators: Lorraine Walsh, Cliona Harmey, Christine Mackey, Nita Tandon, Lei Han and Jeremy Bernstein.