Ears on My Back - Experiencing the Soundscape Without Hearing

This paper analyses the artistic dimensions of fine art, focusing on film and performances, and the aspects of experience by the audience of this type of art. We analyze the contribution of sound, and consider a way to, either translate relevant aspects of sound to other modalities, or use other modalities to artistically enhance the experience. We provide a conceptual framework of dynamic and interactive types of art and we discuss the development of the relation between visual art and sound and the concept of experience of art. We discuss the problems of experience if sound is not available and consider the translation of sound to other modalities. We propose an experimental design, "Ears on my Back" and show the initial development of a garment that aims at experiencing relevant sound aspects in alternative modalities. Finally, we show the challenges and opportunities of multidisciplinary collaboration in this domain.