Biography

I am Eli de Boer, a recent graduate from Design Academy Eindhoven, whose work lies between kinetic sculpture, design, sound art and performance. My work aims to encourage play and interaction with itself and other people, to create emotional attachment. The work becomes activated when people interact with it, I want the people to feel connected and that they have agency. With a big part of my work I am merging fidgets with design, and building it into everyday places. I want to use fidgeting in my art practice to pull us away from the digital world, when everything is driving us to live online. 

In my minor, researching various acoustic instruments, I have gained a good understanding of sound theory which I apply to my work. Starting to work with musical instruments has opened a door to collaboration with musicians, making the work lean into performance. 

Working with public space intrigues me because it can facilitate interaction, accessibility and joy from the surprise of unexpected placement.

I value showing the making process and mechanism workings in the final design.

Artistic project

With the string instruments, I create playful and enjoyable interactions, offering a unique way to experience music and to connect to nature. I am designing a swinging bench that doubles as a string instrument, connecting to the existing space and structures. The bench reimagines the traditional use of an instrument, transforming it into a functional object for public environments. The strings that support the bench are under tension from the weight of the person sitting on it, they can be played and are amplified through echo boxes in the sides of the swing. If the strings are attached to different branches far up in the trees, they would create impressive low notes determined by the people's weight and the distance between them and the trees. When swinging or shifting balance, the tension on the strings changes, resulting in a pitch bending effect. This isn’t an instrument for creating perfect melodies, but rather for exploring sound and play. My goal is to encourage people to experiment, connect with nature, connect to their senses and spark curiosity.

Format: installation

Size of audience: 20 people, 1-3 people using the instrument

Specific location: hanging in a tree/ multiple trees

Timing/duration: non-applicable