ReSilence Exhibition: SR&DL Unveils "Echoes" at BASE Milan

We are excited to share that the highly anticipated exhibition titled ReSilence has opened at BASE Milan. Our team at SR&DL is proud to present the parallel research projects behind our interactive art installation, ECHOES, and the film documentary VOICES.

Experience the Transformation of Sound

ReSilence at BASE Milan is an exhibition of performative installations that transform listening into a collective experience. In a remote region of FAROUT, within an immersive and interactive space, a deafening silence unfolds. Fifteen international artistic residencies present fifteen projects that combine art, technology, and science to envision future cities as sound ecosystems. Artists investigate the role of sound in building more conscious public spaces and communities.

Engaging with the Installation

Our exhibition piece includes a large table and two screens. The content presented on the tables, organized in thematic stacks, forms an uncurated visual journal. This journal documents and reveals a constellation of explorations, research, experiments, communications, and iterative steps that have shaped the work in its current state. This evolving archive invites viewers to engage with the process behind the practice, providing insight into the layered development of ideas and forms.

Parallel research presented at the BASE Milan ReSilence exhibition. Based on the interactive installation ECHOES and the film documentary VOICES.

The Concept Behind Echoes

“Echoes” is an immersive environment designed to raise awareness and foster acceptance of neurodivergent spatial experiences. It creates meaningful connections between art, technology, and human perception. For autistic individuals, sensory input profoundly shapes how they interact with the world. This makes physical environments critical to their well-being. The concept of disability is constructed not just at the site of the body but also in multiscalar architectural operations. These are the spaces that mediate between us and our desires. Spatial access remains consequential to agency, empowerment, and self-possession.

“Echoes” invites participants to engage their own bodies and senses to empathize with the emotional experiences of others. It is a safe space with responsive light and sound events that support self-regulation. This site affirms bodily and perceptual experiences. The work highlights how built environments and physical space influence embodied, multi-sensory experiences. This impact is significant for neurodivergent and autistic individuals, but ultimately affects everyone.

Exhibition space during ReSilence opening at BASE Milan

People interacting with exhibition items during ReSilence opening at BASE Milan

ECHOES

Creators: Severino Alfonso & Loukia Tsafoulia, Synesthetic Research and Design Lab

Technology Collaborators: Ilias Kalisperakis & Spyros Stefanidis, Up2metric. Paraskeyi Kritopoulou & Eleftheria Lagiokapa, the Center for Research & Technology, Hellas

Video Montage: Elpida Nikou

Woodwork & Construction Collaborator: Wood Plan, Athens, Greece

Thank you to the Perama Municipality for generously providing the space for the construction and initial preview of the “Echoes” installation.

The Concept Behind VOICES

Complementing the physical experience of the “Echoes” installation, the “Voices” film documentary shares first-hand narratives. These narratives reveal how urban soundscapes affect autistic individuals. They raise awareness and inspire more inclusive cities.

The interviews’ transcripts contribute to a research project that advances knowledge on how ASD/ND individuals experience urban environments. Collaborative efforts between neurodivergent and neurotypical communities, alongside professionals in art, design, technology, and healthcare, can contribute to creating more inclusive, autism-friendly spaces.

The information compiled from the “Echoes” installation visitors’ responses and the coding of the “Voices” interviews aims to offer insights for designers, planners, and policymakers. This research contributes actionable insights on this critical topic.

Video of the exhibition space during ReSilence opening at BASE Milan.

VOICES

Creators: Severino Alfonso & Loukia Tsafoulia, Synesthetic Research and Design Lab

Research & Advocacy Collaborators: Rosemary Frasso, Shannon McLain, Quinn Plunkett, Wendy Ross, Jefferson Center for Autism & Neurodiversity, Julia Scott, Rachel Updegrove

Documentary Montage: Elpida Nikou

“Voices: Listeners in the Noise” is supported with funds from the Institute for Smart and Healthy Cities, Thomas Jefferson University (2024 JeffSmart Seed fellowship).

Join Us at BASE Milan

The ReSilence exhibition is open to the public. We warmly invite you to visit BASE Milan to experience Echoes alongside other remarkable works.

For more information about the exhibition and our installation, please visit the official Resilience exhibition page and our dedicated Echoes page.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ReSilence exhibition serves as a vital platform for exploring the intersection of sound, space, and community. It highlights the importance of understanding diverse sensory experiences. This understanding is crucial for creating inclusive environments. Through projects like ECHOES and VOICES, we aim to foster dialogue and collaboration across disciplines. We believe that by bridging art and science, we can contribute to a more inclusive future for all.