zimoun features lo-fi ASMR-triggering works at NYU abu dhabi art gallery

swiss artist and composer zimoun has stacked boxes, dangled steel washers and other lo-fi anomalies at NYU abu dhabi art gallery (NYUAD art gallery). each installation, five in total, have a few things in common. they’re all made from materials you could buy in bulk off alibaba for a few dollars. in a certain setting, they could all raise the hair on the back of your neck, in the most pleasant way — like little lo-fi symphonies. 

installation view of zimoun’s work at the NYU abu dhabi art gallery
all images by john varghese

the installation features five audio-visual installations. in the video at the top of this page, 269 dc-motors circle cotton balls around and around to tap lightly on the interior of a cardboard castle. their gentle bass knockings are best listened to through noise canceling headphones before bed — and yet, they rotate 10 meters high at NYUAD art gallery.

in total, these inventive audio-visual installations used just under 500 dc-motors, some wooden sticks, a few meters of rope, ventilators and polyurethane foil. the result is lo-fi materials that dance to percussions and trigger the ASMR-literate. interestingly, as the community of mesmerizing tingles as just recently began to pick up traction, zimoun’s tower as been a signature piece in his body of work since 2013. all of zimoun’s works at NYUAD art gallery will be on display now until june 1, 2019.

exhibition information: 

title: zimoun
exhibition dates: february 26 – june 1 2019
address: NYU abu dhabi art gallery, saadiyat island, abu dhabi, united arab emirates
opening times: mondays – saturdays, 12pm – 8pm
admission: free