ebb tide is a large-scale sound installation by Japanese sound artist evala, and the latest work in his See by Your Ears project. Since 2017, evala has been developing this project both in Japan and internationally, aiming to create entirely new auditory experiences. See by Your Ears seeks to awaken the inherent, dormant potential of hearing and create new perceptual experiences through his unique "Spatial Composition," using a sound system that does not rely on existing formats. 

Upon entering the ebb tide exhibition space—spanning approximately 400 square meters—visitors are enveloped by both an immersive tide of sound and a disorienting darkness. As their eyes gradually adjust, faint light begins to reveal the contours of form. At the center of the room, a ripple-like, distorted structure made of sound-absorbing material is installed. It stands alone and looks like a reef on a dark seashore. Visitors carefully feel their way onto this structure. Its surface has various slopes, so it's not very comfortable and actually keeps their bodies in a state of slight, constant tension. They slowly adapt to this irregular terrain, finding ways to sit or lie down as sound begins to envelop them. In the deep expanse of darkness, a haze of faint white light drifts gently. Little else meets the eye. 

This 10.8.4.4.4-channel, immersive three-dimensional sound installation is composed of sounds produced by various sound apparatus and environmental recordings that evala has collected from personally meaningful locations around the world. Its intention is not to tell a story that unfolds with time, but to provide an experience of putting oneself in a sound space and to open the imagination of each audience through this.   

The meticulously constructed three-dimensional sound possesses a remarkably high resolution, yet it envelops the body from all directions with resonances and movements that defy physical reality. The sound, at once hyper-realistic and surreal, instantly awakens dormant sensations within the listener and begins to dissolve the boundaries of perception. Accompanied by a sound like a sudden, sharp intake of breath, one might feel at times as if their entire body is diving into a small wind chime; at other times, like being instantly teleported to a crumbling rocky mountain by the sea; or perhaps like floating in an infinite, zero-gravity expanse. The body, enveloped by sound, becomes a medium, allowing one to experience the sensation of the world transforming, as if journeying back and forth between dream and reality.   

The title of the work, ebb tide, is derived from the lore that human biorhythms, including life and death, are connected to the ebb and flow of the tides. For evala, this work is also a requiem for the departed, expressing profound reverence for the unbroken continuity of life. 

Through focused, attentive listening, images begin to emerge. These then reside within each listener in a multitude of forms. Rather than imposing meaning or information from the outside, and instead by awakening the dormant auditory perception that humans possess, the project seeks to boldly yet delicately draw out the diverse and unique stories that well up from within each individual. That is what evala aims to achieve with the See by Your Ears project. 

Concept, direction, composition, and all sound production: evala
Space design: Keisuke Toyoda (NOIZ), Masashi Hirai (NOIZ)
Lighting design: Megumi Yamashita (RYU), Over Cage (RYU)
Sound system: ZAK, Tetsuya Yamamoto (resonate with), Takeo Watanabe (arte) 
Videography: Ryuichi Maruo

This work was created for the exhibition "evala: Emerging Site / Disappearing Sight" in 2024, commissioned by NTT InterCommunication Center [ICC]. 

In his sound installation ebb tide, Japanese sound artist evala demonstrates that the simple act of listening can be a transformative experience. He invites visitors to sit on a structure with intentionally minimal visual elements and allows them to be absorbed by the sound. The piece has no designated listening spot, no beginning, and no end. By defying traditional definitions of music and offering a new sensory experience, evala reflects his long-standing dedication to elevating auditory senses in our vision-centric world—emphasizing the importance of slowing down and being present. This ethos is perfectly captured in his series title See by Your Ears. 

This piece was one of several installations presented at his solo exhibition at NTT InterCommunication Center in Tokyo, which drew an unprecedented number of visitors for a sound art exhibition. The jury found great value in how it democratized sound art, aligning with Tomita's vision of bringing novel music and sound to the general public. 

Isao Tomita was known for his interest and passion in surround and spatial music. It stands as a testament to his legacy to give an award bearing his name to an artist dedicated to creating auditory experiences that are only possible through multiple audio channels and space. a