Google has collaborated with water, light, and sound artist Lachlan Turczan to create an immersive exhibition called “Shaped by Water” that highlights the connection between water and humans. The exhibition is being showcased at Salone del Mobile Milano, and it is a multi-room installation that explores the sonic and optical qualities of water in a sensorial environment. The exhibition features artworks such as Sympathetic Resonance (2023), which uses shallow mirrored bowls filled with water that emit a hum in response to a viewer’s proximity, and Wavespace (2023), where viewers can recline on bespoke furniture while their field of vision is filled with water reflections.
Turczan and the Google team relied on a “natural algorithm” that says “Sound shapes water. Water shapes light. Light shapes perception” to create the exhibition. The exhibition also features videos that show how a drop of water inspired the shape of Google’s latest watch and the seven color stories used across Google’s hardware assortment.
Google’s “Shaped by Water” exhibition marks the tech company’s third exhibition at the Milan fair, following “Softwear” in 2018 and “A Space for Being” in 2019. The exhibition aims to emphasize the design-first approach of Google’s hardware offerings, and it showcases the company’s commitment to the arts to showcase its software.
For Lachlan Turczan, the hope is that viewers will be awakened to the presence and power of water through the exhibition’s sound and light. He believes that the natural phenomena of sound through water provide a visual stimulus that invites viewers to project themselves into the experience. He hopes that viewers will engage with their imaginations and dream with open eyes.
Google’s “Shaped by Water” exhibition is a stunning display of the power and beauty of water. With Turczan’s expertise in water, light, and sound, the exhibition showcases the connection between humans and water in a highly sensorial and immersive environment. The exhibition is a testament to Google’s commitment to design and the arts and allows viewers to engage with their imaginations and experience the wonders of water.