As part of the collaboration between La Salle-URL and Sónar, the Interactive Arts & Science Laboratory (IASlab) will host a performance by one of the festival's invited artists, Julie Hayashi. During this one-hour performance, which will take place in the Cúpula, one of the IASlab's spaces, attendees will be immersed in Wabisabi Music #1 – Particles, a project that explores the relationship between sound, materiality and perception, drawing on techniques from traditional Japanese painting (Nihonga).
Accompanied by Yusuke Asada, who is responsible for the musical component, a large sheet of washi paper will be placed on the floor and the creative process will unfold in an open format, with sound and painting interacting in real time, allowing the audience to witness the emergence of the artwork. At the same time, high-resolution images from SPring-8 will be projected, revealing the physical transformations of the materials.
This is a session open to the public that seeks to create opportunities for dialogue with students and researchers around interdisciplinary practice.
About Wabisabi Music #1 - Particles
Last autumn in Kobe, artists Julie Hayashi and Yusuke Asada presented Wabisabi Music #1 – Particles, a collaboration that brought together Japanese ink painters, SPring-8 and music. The project was based on detailed images of ink permeating Japanese paper, captured at the SPring-8 Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre. Using these scientific images as a foundation, they created a live collaborative performance featuring Yusuke Asada's improvised BOTANICA music and Juri Hayashi's live ink painting.
Building on that first edition, they are now developing a second instalment. In this new phase, they aim to explore and scientifically analyse the symbolic Japanese ink technique tarashikomi, while also examining, through a live demonstration, the influence of music on the material process.
About the collaboration between Sónar and La Salle-URL
Once again, the talent and creativity of La Salle-URL are present at Sónar, Barcelona's leading festival of music, innovation and creativity. Students and faculty from the Digital Arts area are taking part in Sónar+D, the festival's platform dedicated to exploring the intersections between the creative industries, innovation and technology, which this year is being held at the Llotja de Mar. In addition, the Interactive Arts & Science Laboratory (IASlab) is hosting several activities organised as part of Sónar, including the AI Performance Playground 2026 and the performance Wabisabi Music #1 – Particles.