Jason Shegoleff is a creative sound designer, media producer and musician.
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Sound Sculpture Exhibit
"The Sounds of Light" is an interactive sound sculpture that integrates the participant’s actions into the artwork through the use of a sound activated lazer, the reflections of water, a light microphone and an ambisonic speaker setup. ”The Sound of Light” Live with participants
2024
How Does it Work?
Light is created by a sound-activated laser which responds dynamically to the subtle movements and noises of the participant. These light signals are projected through a tank of water and captured by a light-sensitive microphone. This signal is then processed and played live through an array of sculptural speakers surrounding the participant. By creating ripples and waves with their hand as light is projected through a tank of water, the participant is able to influence the piece in more than just one way. In this immersive experience, the viewer transitions from a passive observer to an active participant, enveloped by the sounds generated through their own actions. Nothing is prerecorded. By using a microphone that captures light waves, participants can manipulate sound, which is then broadcast through a circular array of eight speakers surrounding them. This design seamlessly fuses the art with the participant, making sound an interactive experience.
Original sketches and diagrams
2024
As discussed in my research paper, I argue that Ambisonics is often an inaccessible art form, typically requiring expensive technologies, specialized knowledge of sound, and access to a safe and quiet space. Ambisonic video games are frequently designed for VR headsets or rely on complex stereo arrays found in high-end theaters or advanced gaming setups. By creating a public and free Ambisonic sound art piece, my goal is to make this technology more approachable, allowing people to engage with sound in innovative and immersive ways.
The final design for the sound sculpture was based on my original concept. A significant challenge during the design stage was the potential for feedback in the eight-speaker system. However, by using a light-sensitive microphone instead of a traditional sound microphone, the input and output were separated into distinct sources—or senses—effectively eliminating the possibility of a feedback loop.
Artist Statement
I believe the world we live in is surprisingly sound-conservative. As a society, we’ve normalized listening almost exclusively to popular three-minute melodic songs, limiting our auditory experiences to homogenized and pruned loops of repeated chords. We hear instruments and pre-recorded sounds, but we rarely engage with anything outside of this norm. What if the listener had agency? What if we interacted with new and unusual sounds throughout our day? What if sound was not confined to a song but became a dynamic reaction to life, constantly evolving with us? These are the questions my sound sculpture seeks to explore. This piece draws inspiration from the immersive nature of sound art and a desire to reject elitist structures and prohibitive costs often associated with the medium.
It is important for artists to consider how their work will be experienced. My goal was to create a unique soundscape and challenge the conventional ways we consume sound. Since the pandemic, listening environments have often been confined to the digital realm. Because of this, I felt a strong need to create physical, in-person sound art—something tangible that people could interact with and explore. Something unusual and perhaps a little uncomfortable. We’ve grown too accustomed to the ease of online media. Bringing art back into the physical world means reclaiming it, putting it back into our hands.
Capstone Artist Talk
2024