Drawing on real-time sampling and generative visuals, the installation breathes new life into 24 underrecognized Nordic women artists from the turn of the 20th century.

Copenhagen, Denmark, February 18, 2025 — Against All Odds – Historical Women and New Algorithms, which recently concluded at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) in Copenhagen, rewrote art history with an immersive blend of data-driven visuals and enveloping soundscapes. At the heart of its sonic allure was Torso Electronics’ S-4 Sculpting Sampler, the Danish-made instrument powering “Interlink”— a piece by artist Itzel Yard (also known as Ix Shells) — brought to life in collaboration with co-programmer and generative artist Rosendo Merel, resulting in a meditative and ever-evolving audio dimension.

In Against All Odds – Historical Women and New Algorithms, curator Emilie Boe Bierlich and digital curator Majken Overgaard, spotlight the overlooked achievements of 24 Nordic women artists active between 1870 and 1910. Though these artists initially found success — often by leaving their homelands for places like Germany, Italy, France, and Greece — they were later written out of history when a conservative backlash against women emerged. The immersive, interactive piece “Interlink” transforms archival data — ranging from color studies and personal letters to documented travel paths — into dynamic visuals using TouchDesigner, Notch, and LiDAR sensors, bridging historical narratives with cutting-edge technology.

As visitors stepped into a specially designed gallery, motion-sensor technology captured their presence and projected fluid patterns across walls and floors, effectively reviving the spirit of these once-forgotten creators. Interactive elements guided museum-goers through an immersive environment that merged old and new perspectives, illustrating how cutting-edge digital art can breathe new life into overlooked histories and offering a transformative experience that bridged the past and the future.

With a hectic schedule spanning Panama, Miami, Spain and Denmark, Merel was pressed to find a tool that could capture the ethereal essence of these rediscovered artworks. By chance, he discovered Torso Electronics was located right in Copenhagen — an unexpected stroke of serendipity that would define the exhibit’s sonic dimension. From layering delicate textures to triggering expansive reverbs, the S-4’s real-time capabilities mirrored the generative visuals on display. “I needed something that could paint with sound, capturing both the subtlety and grandeur of these forgotten narratives,” Merel explains. “The S-4 gave me freedom to experiment and respond on the fly — exactly what this installation demanded.”

Rosendo emphasizes that sound was pivotal in drawing visitors deeper into the experience rather than merely passing by: “The S-4 allowed us to create evolving textures that encouraged people to linger, explore, and truly engage with the visuals,” he explains. Working closely with the Torso Electronics team, he used the instrument’s granular effects and looping capabilities to craft ambient layers that evolved in sync with the data-driven imagery. “I could perform live with the S-4, adding subtle shifts on the fly and responding to how visitors moved around the space,” Rosendo notes. “This interplay between audio and visuals was crucial for bringing these historical artworks into a new, immersive realm — showing how the past can live and breathe through technology.”