yuri suzuki explores sound in the domestic landscape with 'furniture music' exhibition

yuri suzuki explores a definition of sound design in contemporary times through new solo exhibition. ‘furniture music’ attempts to redesign the domestic soundscape and discover ways for sound to enhance harmony and comfort within one’s surroundings instead of turning into noise.

guitar table, 2018 – courtesy the artist and stanley picker gallery at kingston university london
all photos by corey bartle-sanderson

with furniture music, suzuki examines sounds that exist in the periphery and can really impact our environment, and challenges the way those are designed to offer solutions to real-world problems. the title comes from french composer eric satie’s description of his own music as ‘a sound that should not be actively listened to, but present at the periphery of our daily lives’. the exhibition comprises two main bodies of work: an immersive installation, titled ‘sound of the waves’ (2018); and a series of appliances and furniture pieces conceived for the kitchen/living areas of the home which include, among others, a singing washing machine (2018), developed in conversation with composer matthew herbert, and a musical kettle (2010).

washing machine, 2018, blender, 2018 & musical kettle, 2010 – courtesy the artist and stanley picker gallery at kingston university london

blender, 2018 & musical kettle, 2010 – courtesy the artist and stanley picker gallery at kingston university london

white noise machine, 2009 -courtesy the artist and stanley picker gallery at kingston university london

mobile phone, 2018 – courtesy the artist and stanley picker gallery at kingston university london

sound of the waves, 2018 – courtesy the artist and stanley picker gallery at kingston university london

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom