An autopoietic audio system, performing an endless dance while playing an ever-changing real-time composition.
 

The work consists of several robotic moving-head speakers, one of them being used as a microphone. The motion of the speakers is sound controlled: from the microphone, the sound goes through a sound analysis program, the outcome is wrapped and used as coordinates for speaker’s motors. The sound-input is filtered with different effects in a sound program and played to the speakers. This creates a kind of double feedback situation: the sound generates the movement of the speakers and microphone, and that movement in turn generates audio feedback, which is repeatedly interrupted by the resulting coordinates or speaker movements.

Like a swarm of animals implies a group movement according to a set of basic rules that ensures well-coordinated activity, the “swarm of speakers” embodies (computer) controlled and coordinated behavior. However, the “unconscious” part of the orchestra points to the fact that also within technology there is always a level of unpredictability.

In a subtle, playfull, and critical way, SwarmOfSpeakers – The Unconscious Orchestra talks about the ideal of a well operating and controlled technological systems, while one can never know or predict fully the behavior of the system.