The premiere of this work at ArtEra invites viewers to reflect on the sounds they encounter in healthcare settings and to envision the future soundscape of these spaces. The audio-visual works explore how the acoustic environment of hospitals relates to the mechaphony - the sounds of the industrial age. These digital sculptures act as speculative machines and environments. They were designed with sound as the primary sculpting material.
Unlike conventional methods, which modify existing machines to "fix" their sound, Colette proposes a different perspective, where the design of medical machines considers both its sound and function simultaneously from the start.
Sound Office gathered insights through surveys from patients, medical professionals at Erasmus MC, and as well as two workshops in collaboration with Miguelángel Clerc Parada at Erasmus MC. This initiative invites the medical and engineering communities to rethink the role of sound in healthcare technology. By prioritizing sound design alongside visual and functional considerations, the project seeks to shape the future of hospital environments where sound is integral to the overall patient, healthcare worker, and visitor experience.