With this installation, SNOOZE confronts the viewer with the alienation of daily life. It provokes passersby with a ringing alarm that automatically triggers every five minutes, with no way to stop it. The noisy object remains unseen, making it impossible to visualize or reach. The public endures this sonic threat without any means of control. One is forced to endure it patiently, waiting for the mechanical chime to fade, only to know that in five minutes, it will all begin again.

The woven foam then smothers the ringing, giving broader meaning to its insulating and soft nature. Layers of foam accumulate, emphasizing the repetitive and relentless quality of the sound, creating a prickly cocoon around the clamorous object. As the foam wraps around its prey, it muffles the alarm’s melody and amplifies its vibrations, which resonate throughout the entire structure.

Amid the bustle of the exhibition, the ringing fades into the background noise, becoming just another sound among many. One must approach the piece to grasp the origin of the sound and acknowledge the frustration of its endless cycle.

SNOOZE (2017) Woven foam and mobile phone 30x33x33 cm Commissioned for the exhibition ÇA VA ALLER, held in Mons in May 2017 – set design by Camille Tota.