Repurposed Audio-Made Art

Artist Benoît Maubrey transforms discarded loudspeakers into interactive public art installations, creating sculptural forms such as shrines, ships, obelisks, igloos, and temples. Rather than selecting speakers based on brand or sound quality, Maubrey sources them by availability, describing his method as a “democracy of ohms.”

Maubrey applies a precise approach to wiring and amplification, a technique unique to his work. Across festivals in Germany, Japan, Egypt, France, Canada, and Austria, these sculptures have allowed the public to engage directly: people speak, create, or share music through the recycled speakers. Aside from a three-minute limit on the answering machine, the installations operate without censorship.

Beyond functionality, each speaker carries a “patina” from years of prior use, evoking memories for those who recognize the objects. This sense of familiarity draws viewers toward the sculptures, encouraging them to interact—whether by speaking into a microphone or connecting their devices to the speakers.

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