Sound captions projected on a wall. They read, “[hrhroaaaaaaaooouuu] [tingkling lullaby sounds in the background] [i heard sound of balloons being crunched in the audience] [soft children voice in the back].” Photo: Frances Breden. Event: In Conversation exhibition, 2025.
Live sound captioning
improvised sound description
Sound captioning is not a typical accessibility feature at many live events, but it has increasingly attracted the attention of artists across backgrounds. Jay started a live sound captioning project interpreting a live performance, as part of introducing this accessibility element to audiences.
Work details
Year created: 2025 - ongoing
Format: live improvised sound captioning
Medium: live text on projection
Cast
Sound-captioner: Jay Afrisando
Showcase
It Takes a Village performance, In Conversation exhibition closing (finissage), Galerie im Turm, Berlin, DE, 23 November 2025.
![Sound captions projected on a wall. They read, “[hrhroaaaaaaaooouuu] [tingkling lullaby sounds in the background] [i heard sound of balloons being crunched in the audience] [soft children voice in the audience, talking with ].” Photo: Frances Breden.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/674a98608f2ea01242e45c49/311c99b5-efa3-41f2-b164-ea42ea00c209/IMG_5289_compressed.jpg)
Sound captions projected on a wall. They read, “[hrhroaaaaaaaooouuu] [tingkling lullaby sounds in the background] [i heard sound of balloons being crunched in the audience] [soft children voice in the audience, talking with ].” Photo: Frances Breden. Event: “In Conversation” exhibition, 2025.
![Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted three human voices performed by Ariel, Dea, and Morgan. They read, “kecik kecik kecik shshZzzzzzzzzshZZZZzsSSSHSSHSHSSHHS [softly] aaaaaa.............. rrrrrrrrrrrrr ...zzzzzzzzz rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/674a98608f2ea01242e45c49/e6369b00-fc9b-4ee0-899a-dbfc8eae4ed5/IMG_5248_compressed.jpg)
Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted three human voices performed by Ariel, Dea, and Morgan. They read, “kecik kecik kecik shshZzzzzzzzzshZZZZzsSSSHSSHSHSSHHS [softly] aaaaaa.............. rrrrrrrrrrrrr ...zzzzzzzzz rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrr rr rr rrr rR RRRRR RrRRRR RrRRRRR rR shuuut! shuttt! shsshshsh!” Photo: Frances Breden. Event: “In Conversation” exhibition, 2025.
![Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted sounds performed by Ariel, Dea, and Morgan, and the overall soundscape. They read, “[sound of Ariel interacting with his son] [children in the audience laughing] [Ariel instructing the audience....](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/674a98608f2ea01242e45c49/e335bea0-03ad-479f-8a1f-ec366f900a1c/IMG_5258_compressed.jpg)
Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted sounds performed by Ariel, Dea, and Morgan, and the overall soundscape. They read, “[sound of Ariel interacting with his son] [children in the audience laughing] [Ariel instructing the audience....] [gong soundsssssss.............].” Photo: Frances Breden. Event: “In Conversation” exhibition, 2025.
![Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted the overall soundscape. They read, “[i heard sound of balloons being crunched in the audience] [soft children voice in the audience, talking with his/her/their peer?] [chewing sounds in the audienc](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/674a98608f2ea01242e45c49/c619d15e-d5da-4b8e-a75c-57d7563528dc/IMG_5361_compressed.jpg)
Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted the overall soundscape. They read, “[i heard sound of balloons being crunched in the audience] [soft children voice in the audience, talking with his/her/their peer?] [chewing sounds in the audience——have you enjoyed the cake?].” Photo: Terry Perdanawati. Event: “In Conversation” exhibition, 2025.
![Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted the overall soundscape. They read, “[gong soundssss faading] [all sounds fading out] [off] YEAH! [clap c/ap clap!” Photo: Terry Perdanawati. Event: “In Conversation” exhibition, 2025.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/674a98608f2ea01242e45c49/d3c10378-7de9-4847-bff7-8ab7f1cef701/IMG_5363_compressed.jpg)
Sound captions projected on a wall. They interpreted the overall soundscape. They read, “[gong soundssss faading] [all sounds fading out] [off] YEAH! [clap c/ap clap!” Photo: Terry Perdanawati. Event: “In Conversation” exhibition, 2025.