Project report

Reduced Signals –
sub/Wald & MindSpiel

We are presenting two installations that explore digital media and different modes of perception and serve as examples of practice-based research at KIO.

Project participants

Samuel Johnstone Maria Elina Kallionpää Lars Engeln Aram Badr
Alexander Mann

Project status

On display from May 2–9, 2026

sub/Wald

Adaptive spatial media installation

The forest sets the tone

sub/Wald invites you to observe—either alone or together—how your behavior affects the environment.

sub/Wald translates field recordings from the Teutoburg Forest into an immersive, generative experiential space. Spatial sound, floor projections, and interactive lighting design respond to the presence of visitors, creating a dynamic soundscape that oscillates between quiet contemplation and dense polyphony. Nature is not understood as a static image, but as a relational space in which ecological processes, human movement, and technological systems intertwine.

Field recordings and subsequent composition by Samuel Johnstone. Lighting and software solution for the live performance by Lars Englen. Audio-reactive and generative visualization by Alexander Mann.

MindSpiel

Digital design installation

Cross-modal perception

Visitors are invited to listen to the compositions through headphones and identify the visual sequence that corresponded to each musical work, encouraging close attention to the relationship between movement, rhythm, gesture, and sound.

In MindSpiel, sound functions as an equal counterpart to the visual system, extending the movement of minimalist symbols into a diverse musical space. The installation comprises five short miniature compositions, each synchronised precisely with the motion of the visual elements. While the visual language is intentionally reduced to simple moving arrows and geometric cues, the sonic layer explores a wide range of musical styles, instrumentations, tempi, and compositional approaches. The individual tracks range from a waltz-inspired composition to more cinematic and orchestral textures, while others focus primarily on sonic gestures and timbral events rather than conventional melody or harmony. Instrumentation varies from solo instruments to full orchestral settings and sound-effect-based soundscapes. The musical and visual parameters were developed collaboratively, with the composer creating each work in response to jointly discussed concepts. A central artistic objective was to maximise contrast between the individual sound pieces while maintaining visual minimalism throughout the installation.

Procedural design and sound design by Aram Badr. Composition and sound design by Maria Kallionpää.

Gaussian Splat

Interactive Gaussian Splat from the exhibition

The application, developed in Unity, allows visitors to switch between the empty exhibition space and the fully installed exhibition and to compare the two spaces.

Within the scanned installation environment, users can explore the work through slightly adapted forms of interaction and gain an understanding of key aspects of the spatial experience. This not only documents the installation but also transforms it into a digital, walk-through form, allowing users to become visitors.

Gaussian Splats and Unity Application by Aram Badr.