Moritz Simon Geist
Moritz Simon Geist is a media artist, roboticist, and researcher working at the intersection of AI, sound art, and machine performance. Trained in classical music and engineering, Geist builds robotic instruments that produce sound physically—transforming code and algorithms into kinetic, audiovisual experiences. His work explores the materiality of sound and the role of AI in future creativity. From robotic techno albums to AI-driven sound sculptures, Geist’s installations and performances have been shown worldwide, including Ars Electronica, SXSW, and the Venice Biennale. He runs a research-based studio in Dresden developing sonic machines for art, industry, and speculative futures.
Hard Times Soft Sounds (Seashell)
This installation consists of a collection of seashells, each with its own story. Some were given by friends, some found on travels, others bought second-hand. Each shell contains water and is gently moved by a small motor. No microphones are used. The sound emerges naturally, shaped by the motion of the water inside the shell. Every shell sounds different, creating a shifting landscape of soft, swirling noise.
The piece was first shown at the Plásmata III exhibition in Athens, commissioned by Onassis Stegi. Now exhibited at the KIKK Festival in Namur, it brings together around twenty shells, each acting as a quiet sound machine.
What began during the pandemic as a reflection on slowness, repetition, and fragile beauty has since reached a wide audience. Short videos of the project have gathered more than ten million views online, where the delicate, ASMR-like textures struck a nerve.
Known for his robotic sound instruments and mechanical techno, here Moritz Simon Geist moves into more intimate territory. The installation invites close listening and stillness, offering a small moment of calm in a fast-moving world.
