Cimbalom Circle
Improvised orchestras from pedestrian choreographies
Daydreamer
Kinetic musical bench
Daydreamer is a sculptural series of illuminated, slowly rotating public benches, accompanied by gentle music. Conceived to create a ritual around a moment of pause in the urban realm, the artwork stimulates imagination and relaxation, and encourages a communal, synced up experience in a shared, calming soundscape.
A first set of 3 benchs has been installed in the City of Southbend (US) in the fall of 2022.
Categories
Where
South Bend, Indiana, USA
Is it available ?
Yes!
Can cities be built for collective daydreaming?
Rocking has been known to induce a state of daydreaming, proven to lessen stress and anxiety, while opening up the mind to be more intuitive, imaginative at finding solutions by simply letting go for a while.
Another founding principle of the artwork is synchronicity. According to different studies, synchronous activity strengthens social attachments among the group well beyond the moment of coming together. The artwork encourages slow, rocking, synchronous motions to collectively create calming soundscapes, bringing a therapeutic quality to public space.
Three revolving benches host a sound and sensing system. Each structure accommodates up to four people, and is finished in canadian white oak with a powder-coated aluminum arch. Interactive LED lights are integrated in the arch and under the seat to emphasize movement. When people sit and start pushing the benches to rock or spin, a bespoke pivot mechanism ensures the motion is slow, while the responsive system plays recordings of the human voice.
The notes that are sung depend on the benches’ position and direction of travel. The volume of the voices is dictated by the speed of movement. By mapping musical parameters to different physical states, a gestural link is created between body movement and music. Each bench occupies a slightly different musical register; soprano, alto and tenor. Voices sing more complex partitions when benches are moved in synchronicity to encourage collaboration between players. The ensemble is an evolutive tapestry of tension, release, motion and stillness.
« Daydreamer places a chorus of deep hums and light song in a park, emanating from a trio of lit arches, hovering at each end above the ground, as if floating. The harmonies created on the spinning, singing benches in Indiana are designed to connect people in public spaces. »
_Wallpaper Magazine
Awards and Recognitions
- HUB Montreal Award - BEST in Public Art - 2022
- Wallpaper* Magazine : Daily tous les jours imagines a world where public play is commonplace with Daydreamer
- ICON magazine : The contemporary benches combine music, light and design for a collective experience in public spaces
- Monocle : Daily Tous les Jours aims to give residents in South Bend, Indiana, a reason to stay on its snowy streets.
- Design Milk : Meant to help create a moment of pause in busy public spaces, Daydreamer encourages a communal experience through its calming soundscape.
Credits
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- Commissioned by South Bend Venues Parks & Arts.
- A Project by Daily tous les jours
- Creative Direction
- Mouna Andraos
- Melissa Mongiat
- Creative Team
- Michael Baker
- Michael Carosello
- Cécile Chandran
- Ajmir Kandola
- Anne Ouellette
- Magalie Rouleau
- Eva Schindling
- Steven Steffen
- Rebecca Taylor
- Pierre Thirion
- Sound Direction
- Michael Baker
- Technological Direction
- Eva Schindling
- Technical Direction
- Mathieu Frenette
- Production
- Justine Jacob-Roy
- Production Coordination
- Sarah James
- Industrial Design
- Generique Design
- Design Consulting
- SSSVLL
- Manufacturing and assembly
- Generique Design
- Paul de Block
- Mesure
- Installation
- Acorn Landscaping, LLC
- Michiana Contracting
- Sinclair Recreation, LLC
- Engineering
- Yetiweurks
- Concept Paradesign
- Photography
- Qure Agency
- Leah Trib Productions
- Communication
- Mehdi Kerrit
- Thank you
- Aaron Perri, Patrick Sherman, Jonathon Geels. Peter Kells, Florian Semlitsch, Robert Frenette, Tobie Horswill (Art&D), Caroline Gueugnon, Yako. l’équipe Daily: Aurélien, Christophe, Leyla, Noémie, Rafine, Renaud, Stu. Leyl, Sama, Léon, Antoine and Zakaria.
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