Visual Echoes

A unique workstation was designed to enable real-time creative collaboration between deaf visual designer Sjoerd van Rooij and hearing calligrapher Vincent de Boer. The custom-built setup integrates a scanner and painting station in a continuous workflow loop, allowing the artists to create sequential images for stop-motion animation despite their communication barriers. This innovative workspace design transforms limitations into creative opportunities, enabling two artists who don’t share a common verbal language to engage in seamless visual dialogue.

During the Sencity festival at TivoliVredenburg, this workstation became both a live performance space and a demonstration of non-verbal artistic collaboration. Visitors could witness the creative process as Sjoerd worked with the scanner while Vincent applied brushwork, their distinct techniques merging into a unified animation. The installation showcased how artistic expression can transcend traditional communication boundaries, creating a unique storytelling experience that resonated with both deaf and hearing audiences.