Haptics Voices exhibition and reception
Published:
WATERLOO – The Robert Langen Art Gallery at Wilfrid Laurier University is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, Haptic Voices, presented in collaboration with artists David Bobier and Jim Ruxton of VibraFusionLab, an arts-based public studio in Hamilton, Ontario, recognized for its innovative work in multi-sensory artistic practices.
Haptic Voices invites visitors to discover the physical dimensions of sound through vibration, touch, and movement. Transforming audio into tactile sensation, the exhibition reshapes how we encounter art—shifting sound from something we hear to something we can feel.
Co-founded by media artist David Bobier, VibraFusionLab explores the intersections of art, technology, and accessibility, fostering inclusive, multi-sensory experiences for people of all abilities. In partnership with artist-engineer Jim Ruxton, the duo develops installations that merge creativity with technological ingenuity, offering audiences meaningful opportunities for experiential, haptic-based learning.
“Haptic Voices transforms listening into feeling,” said Suzanne Luke, University Art Curator at the Robert Langen Art Gallery (RLAG). “It is a remarkable example of how technology can expand artistic access and reimagine the ways sound and touch can converge to create connection.” At the centre of the exhibition is its signature installation, Haptic Voices, a large-scale, ten-channel vibrotactile wall that invites visitors to stand against it and experience commissioned sound compositions as vibration. Works by Toronto composers John Gzowski and Ravi Naimpally, Deaf Irish composer Ailís Ní Ríain, and artist Jim Ruxton immerse audiences in the physical intensity of sound. Designed with Deaf and hard of hearing communities in mind, the work offers a deeply sensory experience.
The exhibition also features a series of interactive, multi-sensory artworks by David Bobier, exploring access through vibration, touch, and perceptual immersion. Together, these works expand the possibilities of how art can be encountered beyond traditional visual and auditory modes.
The Haptic Voices project and its commissioned compositions were made possible with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Exhibition Reception with the Artists
- Thursday, January 22, 7–9 pm.
- Free Public Event
Gallery Hours:
- Monday–Thursday: 9 am–10 pm
- Friday: 9 am–5 pm
- Saturday–Sunday: 11 am–5 pm