Sound artist Yuri Suzuki transforms aural landscapes into architectural structures at Camden Arts Projects.
In the heart of London, at Camden Arts Projects, a unique and immersive sound installation titled "UTOOTO" is currently captivating visitors. Created by artist Yuri Suzuki, this modular sonic architectural installation invites participants to become co-creators, constructing and reconfiguring a dynamic network of white plastic pipes, brightly coloured funnel-shaped horns, and simple tools [1][3][5].
The interactive nature of "UTOOTO" lies in its encouragement of collective play and experimentation. Visitors of all ages collaboratively assemble the structure, discovering how different configurations alter sound travel and resonance, transforming the space into a vibrant "sonic-scape" or "utopian city" where the architecture itself becomes an evolving acoustic experience shaped by participation [1][2][3][4].
Conceptually, "UTOOTO" references an Okinawan prayer phrase, connecting the playful sound construction with a sense of reverence and reflection. Suzuki draws inspiration from utopian city visions, such as Walt Disney’s EPCOT, imagining the installation as a community-built acoustic device that fosters shared experience, innovation, and mutual connection [1][5].
The sounds in the generative soundtrack are composed from a library of vowels and consonants common across global languages, while the sounds created by visitors play through hidden speakers in pipes. In this way, sound is used as a universal language, amplifying interaction, communication, and collective play [2].
"UTOOTO" is open from 9am to 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday, and will run until 5 October 2025. The exhibition invites visitors to help build a sonic architecture in real time, constructing their own prototypes of a utopia using sound, structure, and collective imagination.
For more information about Yuri Suzuki and his work, visit his website at yurisuzuki.com. For details about the "UTOOTO" exhibition, visit camdenartsprojects.com [3][4].
[1] https://www.camdenartsprojects.com/exhibition/yuri-suzuki-utooto [2] https://www.designboom.com/art/yuri-suzuki-utooto-sonic-architecture-camden-arts-projects-08-2022/ [3] https://www.dezeen.com/2022/08/29/yuri-suzuki-utooto-sonic-architecture-camden-arts-projects-london/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/aug/29/yuri-suzuki-utooto-sonic-architecture-camden-arts-projects-london [5] https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/08/31/yuri-suzuki-utooto-at-camden-arts-projects-explores-the-power-of-sound-in-community-building
In this unique art installation, "UTOOTO," visitors can collaborate in creating a "sonic-scape" or "utopian city" that transforms the space by altering sound travel and resonance. The exhibition, open until October 2025, invites visitors to help design their own versions of a utopia using sound, structure, and collective imagination, bridging the gap between lifestyle and home-and-garden through the creation of an interactive, communal living space.
