Looking Outwards 4: Audio-driven digital art

It is known that simple algorithms can generate complex visual art. Audio-driven digital art, a form of audiovisual art, is similar to generative art in that an algorithm is still responsible for generating the art, however the algorithm only converts audio input into a visual output. Sound visualization techniques are nothing new; they have been used for music videos, desktop backgrounds, and screen savers for quite some time already. Common sound visualization techniques like waveform visualization are used to add visual flare to an app or a music video, or even something as simple as a volume indicator.

Only recently has sound visualization become prevalent in art and design. Audiovisual art allows for the synthesis of both physical sensations to create fully immersive, unique experiences. Nanotak Studio’s Daydream is a mesmerizing example of audiovisual art being utilized to create a unique spatial experience. The installation consists of two series of glass panels that have images projected onto them from behind. The resulting effect creates the illusion of one being in a larger space, with the echoing sounds making the whole experience more immersive. The pushing and pulling of the projected abstract shapes and spaces coincide with the humming and soothing sounds, creating the sensation of being detached from reality. The choreography of sound and light with the use of algorithms is able to create art that provides an experience unlike any other.