Barbican launches multi-sensory exhibition exploring how we experience sound

London's Barbican Centre has unveiled an immersive exhibition that explores how sound shapes emotions and memories. Named Feel the Sound, the multi-sensory show contains eleven sound-focused installations located across the Barbican Centre's site. Luke Kemp, head of creative programme at the Barbican and curator of the showcase, described the exhibition as "an invitation to explore The post Barbican launches multi-sensory exhibition exploring how we experience sound appeared first on Dezeen.

Barbican launches multi-sensory exhibition exploring how we experience sound

London's Barbican Centre has unveiled an immersive exhibition that explores how sound shapes emotions and memories.

Named Feel the Sound, the multi-sensory show contains eleven sound-focused installations located across the Barbican Centre's site.

Luke Kemp, head of creative programme at the Barbican and curator of the showcase, described the exhibition as "an invitation to explore the expanded world of sound, how we feel it, see it and the possibilities it provides for us to understand ourselves and the world differently."

Upon entering the Barbican via the main Silk Street entrance, visitors will first encounter Observatory Station, an audio installation created by sound artist Miyu Hosoi and global sound project Cities and Memory.

Visitors interacting with touchpoints within the exhibition — Installations prompt visitors to explore their relationship with sound. Photo by Thomas Adank courtesy of Barbican Centre

The installation uses mixed archival field recordings from around the world and combines them with recordings taken across the Barbican to create unique soundscapes that imagine the daily life of imaginary strangers.

Several of the installations are located in the Barbican's Curve Gallery, including Un/bound, created by Trans Voices choir, in collaboration with spatial sound studio Monom and scholar Patty Ayukawa.

The group collaborated to create a sonic installation celebrating how technology can be used as a means of connection and how sonic experiences can inspire social change.

As visitors wander through a club-like space, they are invited to add their voices to a looping chorus, creating a constantly changing audio experience.

Photograph of four people gathered around microphones — Un/Bound explores deep listening as a catalyst for change. Photography by Thomas Adank, courtesy of Barbican Centre

Also found in the Curve Gallery are touch points created by women-led neuroscience studio Kinda Studios and film and experience design collective Nexus Studios.

Titled Your Inner Symphony, the project is based on neuroscientific research exploring the transformative power of music.

Each "sensing station" touchpoint collects physiological data from the user's body when interacted with. This collected data is then visualised in real time through a lighting display in the space.

Outside on Barbican's lakeside terrace, visitors can find a series of kite sculptures created by poet Raymond Antrobus, each of which is inscribed with writing and symbols intended to communicate the deaf community's experience of the hearing world.

Digital render of Joyride exhibition in Barbican car park — Joyride by rave architects Temporary Pleasure explores DIY music community. Image courtesy of Temporary Pleasure.

For the first time, the exhibition will also spread to the Barbican's car parks, where visitors can find Joyride, an installation exploring rave culture and DIY music communities.

Alongside the exhibition itself, the Barbican is also hosting a summer season of concerts, screenings and workshops, all exploring the power of sound and how it can be used to create change.

A radio programme titled Rebel Radio will host a month-long programme celebrating London's pirate radio subculture, and exploring radio as a platform for community and subversion.

The exhibition was co-produced by the Barbican and The Museum of Narratives in Tokyo, Japan, and designed by Universal Design Studio.

Previously, the Barbican has hosted exhibitions exploring the subversive power of textiles and community-led design.

Feel the Sound is at the Barbican Centre until 31 August 2025. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for the Barbican Centre as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen's partnership content here.

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