Desert Choir

On view Nov. 6–15

Ottomata | Montreal, Canada

Desert Choir is an interactive light and sound installation that invites you to experience a magical call-and-response with the nocturnal wildlife of the American West.

When you vocalize into a microphone station situated along the Arizona Canal, your voice creates a vibrant trail of light on a large saguaro blossom-shaped screen suspended above the canal. Projections on the three glowing, translucent blossoms reveal the majestic outlines of native desert animals as the artwork answers your vocalization with authentic calls of Southwestern fauna. As visitors simultaneously join from other stations, the wildlife calls harmonize, transforming the urban space into an evolving, collective symphony and beautifully bridging the gap between human city life and the untamed spirit of the arid desert.

About Ottomata

Ottomata is an experiential design studio, specialized in the conception of interactive installations and immersive journeys, without the need for wearable technologies like virtual reality. The studio integrates its technologies directly within the public space to generate collaborative and collective experiences. By combining architectural mapping, show lasers, holographic systems, and motion tracking technologies, Ottomata places the individual and their unique actions at the center of the narrative. This collective participation enriches the experience, ultimately bringing the audience back to the present moment.

Instagram: @Ottomata.Studios

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