Hard Times – Soft Sounds
Moritz Simon Geist, 2021
Seashell, motor, wood, PVC | Sound piece

Created during the pandemic, Hard Times – Soft Sounds reflects on the fragile role of beauty, stillness, and repetition in a time of rapid transformation. In this intimate sound sculpture, a simple seashell—filled with water—is gently set into motion by a motor. The movement generates an ever-shifting tone that recalls ASMR textures and evokes a sense of meditative presence.

Transforming a familiar natural object into a mechanical sound device, the work invites deep listening and momentary escape. Known for his robotic sound machines, Geist here turns inward: from industrial rhythms to the quiet poetry of resonance. Hard Times – Soft Sounds becomes a sonic memento of a slowed-down world and a tribute to the calming power of sound.