Note: This post is part of my “Museums Project“, a collection of 200+ high-concept ideas for museums.
This is a museum filled with everyday objects.
The visitors are given the typical headset when they arrive.
As the visitors proceed around the museum and look at each object they hear the sound the object should make.
The sound the object should make is not the sound that the object in any way can make. This is not the sound of touching the object, dropping the object, breaking the object, or even the sounds that the object makes through its regular use.
They are the sounds that the objects will never make but should.
The sounds are the soul of the object. The sound does not fill the air of the room. It’s just heard in the head of the visitor (courtesy of the headphones).
What sounds should a cup make? A plastic folding chair? A jigsaw puzzle? A lightbulb? A pencil? A garbage can?
What are the stories the sounds make? Are there objects that call to each other? Sound similar? Are the sounds short, long, simple, complex? Are they entire pop songs? Are they endless tones?
Most importantly is the should. Why should each of these sounds be made by each of the objects?
Perhaps the sounds tells the story. Perhaps each gallery has a second gallery that mirrors the first. Except that it shows the should in a visual way. Perhaps it is the gallery of “What Would Happen If The Things That Don’t Make Sounds Made The Sounds They Should”.