Static & Spirit by Sounak DAS explores the sacred in the mechanical, reimagining machine noise as a form of techno-spiritual ritual. Drawing from Eastern philosophies that view vibration as the foundation of existence, this sculptural sound installation transforms the hum of motors and metal into mechanical mantras – echoing the transcendental power of chanting and mantras. Built from scrap and materials found in Rotterdam’s urban landscape, the machines are given voice through a network of ESP32 microcontrollers, motor drivers, DC motors, metal plates and rods. Bridging cybernetics and esotericism, Static & Spirit invites audiences into a sonic pilgrimage, where breathing rhythms and machine resonance merge into a meditative experience. Through this entanglement of human and machine, the project questions the boundaries between the organic and the artificial, seeking the divine in the mundane of the everyday.

Developed during a 2025 Summer Sessions residency at V2_.