For Rococo Reboot at Modemuseum Hasselt, we reimagined the soundscape of the 18th century through a contemporary lens. In close collaboration with creative studio Piece Montee (scenography & direction) and curator Eve Demoen, we crafted a layered sonic experience that blurs the line between past and present.

Music

Upon entering the museum, visitors are welcomed by a surreal reinterpretation of rococo music—an eerie yet elegant blend of period instruments and modern textures. The result is a sense of estrangement that perfectly mirrors the exhibition’s exploration of idealized beauty and illusion. As the exhibition unfolds, the music morphs and shifts, following the anatomy of an outfit and the rhythm of an 18th-century day, from morning rituals to the grandeur of an evening ball.

ASMR

In one installation, visitors don headsets to immerse themselves in ASMR recordings of historical domestic sounds: washing fabrics, folding clothes, applying cosmetics. Each sound was carefully recreated and recorded to evoke the intimacy of daily life in that era.

Whisper tracks

Further into the exhibition, a whispering voice interrupts—a gossiping character from the 18th century, slyly mocking the excesses of male fashion. For this cheeky interlude, we collaborated with actor Jan Debski.

With sound, music, and voice, Rococo Reboot invites visitors to not only see, but hear the echoes of the past—rebooted for today.

Credits

Scenography by Piece Montee
Art direction by Charlotte Debussche
Curator Modemuseum Eve Demoen
Harware by CREATE.EU
Music and sound Installation by Audiotheque
Scent Installation by Peter Decupere

Visit the exposition from April 4, 2025 until February 22nd, 2026. For more information visit the website.