The Dream Machine, A Multisensory Organ
Now a permanent fixture at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, The Dream Machine is a groundbreaking multi-player, multi-sensory organ that brings the power of music, sound, and emotion into vivid, synesthetic focus. Inspired by Aldous Huxley’s belief in the profound connection between the senses and human experience, this installation explores how we can feel truly alive by orchestrating our full emotional spectrum.
We collaborated with dear friend and multi-sensory artist, Emilie Baltz to combine smell, sound and sight for the Dream Machine. Pressure data from the eight hand pumps trigger interactive audio, yielding a multi-user compositional experience. After touring around 4 of 5 NYC boroughs, The Dream Machine has found a permanent home at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey.
Pumps & Scents
The Dream Machine invites participants to pump ten bicycle pumps connected to brass horns, each emitting sound, light, and scent that represents a distinct emotion. As visitors play these emotions together, they unlock a secret effect—a realization that we are most human when we fully engage with our emotions.
Composing for four senses
At Antfood, we contributed an original composition and designed a custom playback engine to pass sound through talk boxes and repurposed French horns, crafting a truly immersive audio experience. This work underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of music and sound design in multisensory experiences, revealing how sound can be a powerful vehicle for storytelling and emotional connection. Having toured the New Lab and Panorama Music Festival, The Dream Machine continues to inspire audiences, showcasing the potential of sound to transform the way we perceive the world.
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