Relinquish
May-july 2023
Experiential Design / Sound Design / Physical Prototyping
Re:linquish is an experiential art installation constructed for Soulmate Re:union, a camping music festival nestled in the tranquil wilderness of Trout Creek Wilderness Lodge in Oregon, hosted by Seattle-based creative collective Soulmate in the spirit of collaboration and community. Re:linquish acts as a multi-zone journey through relinquishing control, encouraging participants to push past their fears, and ultimately discover the beauty and calm that awaits. Drawing from the mythology of sirens, it aspires to reframe the negative connotation of surrendering to the unknown, suggesting that perhaps the other side isn’t as dark as you imagined.
Zone 1 sets the stage with a whispering forest path, where hidden speakers breathe poetry into the air, luring wanderers towards a distant structure bathed in watery light. In Zone 2, a trailer-turned-ship-maze echoes with the lore of sailors lost at sea, their notes adrift amongst strobe-lit tempests and stormy soundscapes. The voyage culminates in Zone 3’s geodesic dome, which centers around a floating jellyfish-esque crystal chandelier, taunting with the text "Relinquish, Come Closer" as it spins. A luxurious clam-shell bed lies directly underneath while pillows surround the dome’s circumference. As participants enter, they’re motioned towards the bed or pillows and given a laser if assigned the latter. Against the backdrop of an ethereal ambient cover of Cat Power’s "Sea of Love" entwined with underwater synthy ambiance and whale calls, participants are then invited to etch light across the chandelier in communal creation, blurring the line between creator and receiver, trading positions when the time arises.
After running the exhibit the first couple nights as a fully curated experience, we then transitioned to using it as an ambient stage at the festival, hosting the first official concert of my new collaborative dark electronic project the stalk, as well as many other beloved sound makers.
Sound Design
As sound design lead, my role allowed me to weave a sonic tapestry that guides visitors from the very first step. In Zone 1, I placed speakers among the trees to emit eerie hypnotic harmonies layered with whispered poetry, creating a siren-esque stereo-panned soundscape luring participants toward a structure glowing with serene, watery projections. More than a walk through the woods, the mysterious path served as an invitation to follow curiosity into the unknown.
Includes excerpts from Margaret Atwood’s Siren Song - “I will tell the secret to you. to you, only to you. Come closer.”
Transitioning to Zone 2, I aimed to intensify the experience. Here, in a maze-like trailer, I infused the space with the ambient sounds of a stormy sea and creaking ship, foreboding a fate in the depths. The jarring strobe lights, in conjunction with the audio, create a visceral experience of disorientation and intrigue, challenging participants to push forward through the uncertainty.
The culmination of this journey lies within Zone 3, the dome where the concept of relinquishing control becomes palpable. Participants find solace on a clam-shell bed beneath a spinning crystal chandelier. The soundscape here is a delicate fusion of a duet with fellow Re:linquish creator Clare covering "Sea of Love" with whale calls and other underwater ambience, crafting an atmosphere of profound connection, peace, and an eerie familiarity. The interplay of lasers and light by participants around the bed co-creates a unique visual symphony, symbolizing the shared creation and experience of beauty.
Through Re:linquish, my aim was to explore the depths of sound and its power to transport, transform, and transcend. This exhibit is a testament to our collective journey through the act of letting go, inviting participants to not only hear but feel their way through a narrative of liberation and discovery. It's a reflection on what it means to give in to the forces that pull us in myriad directions, yet find strength in vulnerability and connection. In creating this soundscape, I hoped to offer a space where the whispers of the past and the echoes of the deep invite us to listen, let go, and ultimately, find ourselves anew.
