Sunrise for

the Sleepers

Have you ever stopped to think about what the sun sounds like?
The sun vibrates in a complex pattern of sound waves, and recordings of these vibrations remarkably resemble the resonant sound of a tamtam (a special type of gong). This intriguing concept inspired visual artist Boris Acket and HIIIT to create a spectacular fusion of image, sound, and light, in which an artificial sun slowly orbits the Earth, following the sound and body of a tamtam—originating from Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Mikrophonie series.

Two celestial bodies representing the sun are accompanied by four automated tamtams and gongs. The metallic surfaces create a soundscape that changes depending on where you stand: by moving through the space, you encounter different frequencies. The two celestial bodies, installed at opposite ends of the space, form a beautiful interplay with the acoustics of the grand Herrenhausen Gallery. A fascinating duet of light, sound, space, and shadow.

During KunstFestSpiele 2025 in Hannover, Sunrise for the Sleepers will be performed in different versions; both as a regular evening-filling concert and as an art installation with several short interventions.