This is the second episode in the series 'Sound as a by-product' started during the artist-in-residence period in Q-O2 (Brussels).  It studies parts of our life where sound has a quality of a by-product - an incidental or secondary outcome of the main activity. Think of cooking, eating, home appliances, masturbation sounds, as well as voice interaction with animals or electronic devices, sometimes absence of sound.

'Joystick whispers' explores sonic qualities and cultural meanings of silicone in everyday use from breast implants to mouth trainers and vibrators. It is a humorous investigation of a middle ground where technologies and household routines meet each other, are played back, mimicked and discussed. It also touches the subjects of noise measurement, sonic waves, and cruise-control employment in sex toys industry.

'Joystick whispers' is a participatory podcast-style piece created for the new edition of Spring P U L S E 2021 audiovisual program. You are invited to listen to this podcast episode with a silicon item of your choice. Spoiler alert: it has to fit somehow in your mouth! Just like in the first episode, when I invited you to bring along your favorite snack so we could bite on it together.

Participatory art has been hit most brutally by the limitations of the covid pandemic. Instead of freezing up my practice, I look for alternative ways to enable sensory sensations of the audience. For me, 'participative' means active. It means creating a physical experience. A situation when the subject-object relation between the work of art and the audience shifts. An approach that diverts you from looking at the object or listening to it, but instead, it triggers looking inside of yourself and listening within yourself. In the artist-talk hosted by C O M (E) P U L S I V E platform in March 2021 I discussed participative qualities of art and humor that is important for my practice. We also talked about sex noises, shame, and 'hi-tech intimacy' promises delivered by the sex-toys companies.