On 10 October 2026, we brought The Storm to the Barbican’s Cinema 1 for The Future is Sound, a gathering exploring music, culture and human experience. Following its premiere at Tate Modern in September, the artwork became part of a day of conversations, performances and shared listening.
A storm you can feel
The Storm transports audiences into a thunderstorm in the Hebrides through large-scale cinematic imagery, symphonic music and wearable haptics. An entire day unfolds in ten minutes, following the storm as it builds, recedes and returns across the islands’ hills, shores and fields, from dawn to sunset.
Moving between slow motion and time-lapse, the film draws participants into the changing weather and light. Created from imagery of the Hebrides through thousands of AI-generated clips, selected and composed into a continuous journey, it is designed for the cinema, where the scale of the screen brings the power of the elements into the room.
Wearing SoundShirts, participants feel rain and thunder across their bodies, with tactile sensations layered over the symphony and synchronised with the film. Garment, screen and sound are composed as one artwork, making the forces of nature and the emotion of music physically tangible.
Sound beyond listening
At the Barbican, we shared a demonstration of the work and the possibilities of wearable haptics: bringing the body into the cinematic experience through a tactile score.
The Future is Sound offered a setting for that conversation alongside artists and thinkers working across music and technology. The programme included Suzanne Ciani, Beatie Wolfe, BISHI, SUUVI and LJ Rich, bringing different approaches to how sound shapes our experiences and connections.
Our thanks to Jimmy Kyriacou, The Future is Sound and the Barbican team for welcoming CuteCircuit, and to everyone who experienced The Storm with us.
The Storm
Immersive sensory artwork · Full duration: 10 minutes
Designed by Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, 2026
Premiered at Tate Modern, September 2026.
Explore The Storm or discover the SoundShirt Creator Kit for artists, studios and venues creating experiences with touch.