dialoguesometimes

Dialoguesometimes is an interdisciplinary art project that investigates the fragmented nature of modern communication. Created in 2018 by artist‑designer Elena Ruiz, the project blends live performance, interactive installation, and digital storytelling to highlight how everyday conversations are often disrupted by technology and social media.

The core installation consists of a series of modular soundboards placed around a gallery space. Visitors enter and trigger snippets of pre‑recorded conversations that loop, overlap, and morph according to the audience’s movements and sounds. The design intentionally excludes a linear narrative, inviting participants to piece together meaning from disjointed speech patterns. Ruiz described Dialoguesometimes as “a mirror of the asynchronous, fragmented dialogues we experience through messages, emojis, and brief video clips.”

While the project was initially met with curiosity, it soon sparked debate among critics. Some praised its commentary on the loss of depth in digital interactions, noting that the looping sounds mimic how viral snippets circulate on social media. Others criticized the work for being too abstract, arguing that it offered little concrete solution to the communication gaps it highlighted. The installation has toured major contemporary art venues in New York, Berlin, and Tokyo, garnering a modest but dedicated following.

Dialoguesometimes also released an accompanying app in 2020, allowing users to record and upload short conversational clips that integrate into the installation’s soundscape. The app’s open‑source framework has been used by educators to demonstrate the mechanics of asynchronous dialogue in remote learning environments. Despite its niche status, the project has influenced emerging digital artists interested in exploring the intersection of sound, space, and everyday communication.