Freedom of speech is the political right of every citizen in a democratic society to communicate one’s opinion publicly without fear of censorship or punishment. In today’s world, there is no real communication between the civilians and politicians, and ‘speech’ is simply restricted to social media. While the law makers all over the world have shut their ears and doors to the problems of the common man, the South Korean government is opening doors to create an effective platform for communication.
Korean architect & artist Yang Soo-in has designed an interactive sculpture called Yobosayo (Korean word used to call someone’s attention, like ‘hello’), a large, ear-shaped sculpture that records the opinions of passersby and relays it over speakers installed in the newly opened Seoul City Hall. The 8 feet tall sculpture has an installed microphone inside that records the messages and each message is then relayed through speakers located around the City Hall. Sensors on the suspended speakers detect how many officials have heard the messages and the amount of time people have spent in listening to the message. While the ones that attract the most attention stay in the playlist, the unpopular ones are transformed into music by an algorithm that amplifies and distorts their auditory characteristics.
All Photos © Kyungsub Shin