Hémicycle symphonique

2017

Hémicycle symphonique is a sound installation transcribing deputies' activity at the french Parliament in the form of a philharmonic orchestra. The public can master Parliament's data interpretation in real time through a control panel. This interpretation is then played by an ensemble of speakers, each one acting as a political group represented by an instrument family. The set design mimics the usual layout of a small auditorium, in which the public can seat and listen to the symphonic sonification of the deputies' agitation.

This production is part of a Master Thesis in digital arts about the staging/dramatization of political activity, and the way this activity is archived.

Although the installation is fully working and has been exhibited three times in 2017, I consider it as a work in progress, as many improvements can be done (semantic analysis, better visual feedback...).

Basically, it uses SQL for querying Parliament's database (fetched by Regards Citoyens association) Arduino for the control panel, Cycling 74's Max and Jitter for driving the symphonic interpretation and Ableton Live for playing it.

View of the installation during 2017 CURIOSITas festival, at Paris-Saclay university.

3D model of the installation as a promotional flyer

3D model of the installation made on Blender during conception.

Close-up on the control panel. It gives to the public the ability to turn on/off each political group / instrument family, modulate playing speed, notes arrangement and intensity. The backlight reacts to the volume intensity.

People using the control panel to drive Parliament's data interpretation, during 2017 CURIOSITas festival.

Data flow diagram showing every step of the sonification process, from Parliament's records to the installation, with used protocols and tools.

Logo made for the installation. It reads "XIVe legislature edition" because the current version of the installation plays Parliament's data recorded during 14th legislature (from June 2012 to June 2017).

The control panel during the building process. The bottom is designed to contain the computer, the videoprojector and the soundcard.

Close-up on the control panel. It's made out of a white, laser-cut acrylic sheet. Acronyms refer to the name of political groups of the french Parliament during the 14th legislature.