Immersive Sounds X Global Sonic Research

For several years now, HELLERAU has been presenting projects under the label ‘Immersive Sounds’ that are dedicated to current and future technical developments in immersive art and music concepts in order to explore new potential for accessibility and creativity and to expand listening, viewing and thinking habits. On 8 November 2025, as part of ‘Immersive Sounds’ and in cooperation with DAVE Festival, three international artists will be presented with projects that were selected in an open call by ZKM | Karlsruhe, Arts Council Korea (ARKO) and HELLERAU for the new Global Sonic Research Residency and have been conceived and rehearsed at ZKM | Hertzlab and HELLERAU over the past few months.

With ‘Re-flex-ion’, artist Philip Liu has developed a dynamic archive of acoustic memories, combining sound, light and architecture, which he has adapted specifically for the Grand Hall of the Festspielhaus. In ‘Sound Cage’, Anastasia Koroleva transforms acoustic spaces into labyrinths of digital social networks. The interactive voice project ‘Boundaries of Agency’ by Rania Kim (Portrait XO) uses AI-cloned voices of the audience to blur the line between subject and algorithm. In the dialogue between the audience and itself or an AI, a collective sound sculpture emerges in which fundamental questions about identity and digital transformation processes are addressed.

From 7 p.m. onwards, the audience at HELLERAU can actively participate in the preparation of Rania Kim's project ‘Boundaries of Agency’ by making their voices available to an AI in a voice cloning process. The voice data will be used exclusively for this performance and will be deleted afterwards.

Starting at 8 p.m., Philip Liu's ‘Re-flex-ion’ and Anastasia Koroleva's ‘Sound Cage’ will be presented in the Great Hall, followed by audience discussions. Starting at 9:30 p.m., ‘Boundaries of Agency’ by Rania Kim will be performed on the Great Stage of the Festspielhaus HELLERAU.