TILBURG UNIVERSITy:
Spatial audio research for virtual reality
TILBURG UNIVERSITy:
Spatial audio research for virtual reality
TILBURG UNIVERSITy:
Spatial audio research for virtual reality

Evolution | Naturalis
Biodiversity Center
Evolution is the invisible driving force behind all life. In this exhibition at Naturalis Biodiversity Center we make the invisible visible. When you touch a 3.7 billion year old stone, a light and sound installation is activated. The Evolution exhibition illuminates our connection to the origin of life and illustrates that we are related to all what lives around us. Evolution is an ongoing exhibition and part of the Naturalis museum.
An audiovisual installation by Wes Broersen (light design) and
Marijn Cinjee (sound design).
Partners: Designwolf, OneEightyOne and Naturalis Biodiversity Center.

Soundscape
The composition takes inspiration from various stages of evolution.
The soundscape immerses you in a prehistoric Earth, a time before life had even begun to stir, and then empowers you to create and develop a deeper bond with life.
Note: These are degraded stereo quality renders, for the real audio experience please visit Naturalis.
Interactive Design
"The stone invites touch, a simple act that sets a complex mechanism in motion. It all begins with the measurement of electrostatic changes within the iron particles nestled within the stone. Upon human contact, these particles release a subtle electrical discharge, a cue for the audiovisual installation encircling the stone to burst into life. Touching the stone triggers thunderous strikes, volcanic eruptions, and myriad sparks of life. The essence of this interaction lies in the principle of entropy, where disruption begets chaos, and the potential for new life emerges. Visitors wield the power to influence the evolutionary chain through the act of touching the stone.
Witness the birth of evolution and gain awareness of your role in shaping this planet's destiny. Cause and effect propel evolution forward, and here, you are the catalyst."

The soundscape is ever-evolving, continuously in motion. Through generative sound design, each touch of the stone results in a unique experience. You'll hear newly emerging, undeveloped species of animals as they are dynamically created in real-time. When holding the stone for an extended period, the soundscape deepens, forging a more intimate connection with life.

Custom Creative Technology
Holographic sound design conjures the illusion of sounds enveloping the entire room, even emanating from the stone itself. Sound locations intricately synchronize with the light installation, crafting a profoundly tactile and immersive experience. Our spatial sound system, equipped with 12.1 high-end Genelec speakers, brings the experience to life. Sounds seam interwoven with the spatial light installation, which envelops the space in captivating structures of light.
In-house software development
To bring this artistic vision to life, we realized the necessity of a new approach to control both sound and light systems organically. To achieve this, we developed a custom software tool, uniquely capable of guiding perceptually continuous objects of light and sound through physical space. These interconnected audiovisual elements serve as the canvas upon which we illustrate evolutionary pathways. Much like tendrils of light and sound, they radiate from within the stone, branching outward to depict various evolutionary trajectories.
Custom software, controlling the art installation live based on human input from the stone.



