‘Somnoproxy’ is an immersive sound installation by Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard, originally created in the Moog SoundLab. It incorporates a futuristic bedtime story written by Stuart Evers, read by Enzo Cilenti and Kate Ashfield.
‘Somnoproxy’ was recently exhibited as part of 24/7 at Somerset House. In the exhibition, visitors lie down on the Island by L-Acoustics Creations, a luxurious bed that conceals a 24-channel audio system able to faithfully reproduce a full 140dB dynamic range. They are encouraged to close their eyes and focus on the Dreamachine, a stroboscopic flicker device that can induce a hypnogogic state through the eyelids.
This new version of ‘Somnoproxy’ has been devised to create a similar experience online. You should listen with headphones, as the recording has been translated into a special binaural mix, simulating the 3D audio effect. Play the video full-screen and sit close to the screen with your eyes closed. The light pulses at a frequency range that corresponds to electrical oscillations in the relaxed human brain.
