Some of the most chilling art projects not only transform the way we see and hear ourselves in shocking ways, but often give us a whole new perspective on the places where ordinary people interact every day.
That's the goal of designers Francesco Tacchini, Julinka Ebhardt and Will Yates-Johnson at the Royal College of Art, whose project Space Replay is a remarkable demonstration of how an electronic device can interact with people through the medium of sound... but it's also quite disturbing, as it shows how relatively easy it is for an inventive thinker to eavesdrop on the conversations of passers-by.
The sphere is a helium-filled latex balloon fitted with sensitive electronics which record, enhance and “echo” sounds from public spaces as it drifts on air currents and seems to follow commuters, listening in on their conversations and playing them back for all to hear. In the clip below, the ominous object is set loose within the school grounds and in the South Kensington pedestrian tunnel, with curious results.
You can learn more about the Space Replay project at the Royal College of Art.
While we're talking nightmare-inducing art projects... how about a series of self-portraits made from the artist's own frozen blood?