gnoS neriS by Jonas Sjøvaag in CreaTeME at Dutch Design Week 2024
Dutch Design Week 2024
During this year’s edition of the Dutch Design Week United Cowboys presents a curated exhibition consisting of a wide range of conceptional work by local and international visiting designers. The works presented have a strong focus on how human senses relate to design and specific materials.
In a time when artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly permeates every aspect of our lives, a recent sound installation developed by Jonas Sjøvaag and Luis Fernando Jack at the University of Agder, showcased at MKR-Days Eindhoven 2024, offers a refreshing counter-narrative. Titled with emphasis on its thematic call for consciousness, this work is a reminder of the irreplaceable role human awareness plays in our interactions with digital tools.
Link to Dutch Design Week 2024:
https://ddw.nl/en/programme/13163/gnos-neris
About gnoS neriS:
The installation is crafted from microtonally tuned steel rods repurposed from Norway’s offshore industry. These rods, built from SuperDuplex steel tubing, were salvaged from a warehouse where they awaited a new purpose after being discarded from production. By incorporating these materials, Sjøvaag and Jack bring new life to industrial remnants, turning them from obsolete elements into instruments of expressive sound. The work emphasizes sustainability as well as the potential for human creativity to transform the unremarkable into the extraordinary.
This installation doesn’t stop at intriguing materials. It leverages modern sensor technology to create a deeply interactive experience. Controlled by radar sensors, the solenoid-activated steel rods respond to human presence, making the piece highly attuned to its audience. This “conscious” interaction is both metaphorical and literal, a commentary on the artist’s belief in the necessity of human input in our technological world.
Crafted from oak, valchromat, rubber bands, and an Arduino board, the installation is devoid of AI’s influence, relying instead on a collaborative human approach to produce its effects. As Sjøvaag, a musician, and Jack, an engineering student, came together, they brought human sensitivity and technical precision into dialogue. The entire project exemplifies the harmonious integration of art and engineering without the need for computational creativity. Their collaboration further reflects a conscious decision to root the installation in human agency and craftsmanship, a choice that distinguishes this work from others created in partnership with AI.
Showcased through the financial support of the European Union, the work presents itself as an embodiment of European cultural values: collaboration, sustainability, and innovation. Nonetheless, it’s clear that the views expressed are solely those of the artists. Through this support, Sjøvaag and Jack have created a piece that serves not only as art but as a thought-provoking statement on the evolving relationship between humans and technology.
This installation stands as a artistic response to the ubiquity of AI. It invites audiences to ponder their own interactions with technology, encouraging them to recognize the central role of human consciousness, creativity, and presence. In a world where technology often seeks to predict, enhance, or even replace human decision-making, Sjøvaag and Jack’s work reminds us that some aspects of the human experience remain irreplaceable.
View of the installation gnoS neriS – outside — © Jonas Sjøvaag
Foto: © Jonas Sjøvaag