16 otherworldly characters move and sing in interactive 'airship orchestra' installation

melbourne-based art and technology company ENESS unveils ‘airship orchestra’, an interactive installation composed of 16 inflatable characters. the larger-than-life characters change color, react to passersby, and even ‘sing’ a generative soundscape every night. already landed in washington DC and shanghai, the orchestra is beaming down next in adelaide for illuminate adelaide, followed by brisbane for the brisbane festival.

images courtesy of ENESS

nimrod weis, ENESS founder, seeks to stimulate cross-generational connection and joy in public spaces. with airship orchestra, this is achieved with blinking LED eyes, organic forms, and anthropomorphized characters.

the airship orchestra is a mystical tribe of otherworldly characters

beneath the sweet imagery, a fully networked system with motion sensors enables the characters to respond to passersby. this tech also immerses visitors in a soundscape that’s ‘composed’ character-by-character to build a full choir. the generative soundscape is synced with light to create a multisensory experience.

the characters have friendly LED eyes that blink and follow passersby around

the cute aesthetic paired with approachable technology aims to bring out the child in everyone; stimulating playfulness in a way that loosens up behavior and introduces unexpected delight into people’s experiences of public spaces. in this way, weis calls the ENESS team ‘happiness architects’.

the airship orchestra aims to bring joy, happiness and beauty to public spaces

ENESS also hopes to change the way people respond to technology-driven art and sculpture, particularly when it appears in unconventional spaces. although the studio works in many mediums including LEDs for permanent public art, weis’s particular fascination with inflatables relates to their ephemerality, enabling him to combine textile patterns; the DNA of ceramic forms; as well as abstracted, simplified flora and fauna in a way that creates a new visual vernacular. at the heart of every ENESS inflatable sculpture lies a sweet simplicity and a storybook-style language.

motion sensors enable the characters to respond to passersby

visitors are immersed in a generative soundscape synced with light

airship orchestra is as visually arresting by day

the orchestra is beaming down next in adelaide, followed by brisbane

project info:

name: airship orchestra

locations: washington DC, shanghai, melbourne, adelaide

design: ENESS

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: lynne myers | designboom