Yuri Suzuki Reimagines Fairground Rides as Kinetic Acoustic Sculptures in London
Sound artist Yuri Suzuki has unveiled a new exhibition at Pentagram’s Osh Gallery in London, as reported by Designboom. The show, titled Onomatopia, features five kinetic prototypes that transform traditional amusement park attractions into architectural sound sculptures to challenge the visual dominance of modern design and explore speculative public spaces.
Context from Industry Pulse
Yuri Suzuki’s Onomatopia arrives during a period of significant architectural activity across the design landscape. While Jean Nouvel’s Shenzhen Opera House progresses toward a 2028 completion and Sumayya Vally develops a house-inspired art foundation in Dubai, Suzuki’s work focuses on the sensory experience of smaller-scale speculative architecture. The exhibition’s placement within Pentagram’s Islington headquarters highlights a convergence between commercial design hubs and experimental art. By utilizing industrial materials like piping to create acoustic horns, Suzuki bridges the gap between the functionalism seen in recent Parisian public infrastructure projects and the playful, nostalgic wrist-wear trends currently influencing creative media.
"Sound can be a powerful tool for good and bad, but it is often overlooked in a world that is dominated by visual culture."
According to Designboom, the exhibition is a collaborative effort between Suzuki and curator Vicky Richardson, who previously served as the Head of Architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts. The installation consists of five distinct physical dioramas: The Sonic Carousel, The Helter-Skelter, The Dodgems, The Ferris Wheel, and The Roller-Coaster. These works serve as small-scale prototypes for potential large-scale public acoustic interventions, merging mechanical engineering with experimental soundscapes.
Designboom reports that each sculpture is constructed using modular networks of pigmented industrial piping. The designs incorporate vertical collection funnels and directional acoustic horns to broadcast specific sound compositions. These pieces expand on Suzuki’s previous work, specifically the Coaster of Sounds installation featured in the 2025 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. The current dioramas are designed to function as kinetic structures that prioritize auditory experience over visual aesthetics.
As Designboom describes, the project draws intellectual inspiration from diverse historical sources, including Thomas More’s 1516 text Utopia and mid-century World Expos. The aesthetic and functional goals of the sculptures are also influenced by mid-century theme parks like EPCOT. By referencing these optimistic visions of the future, Suzuki aims to create a landscape of escape that encourages visitors to reconsider the role of sound in the built environment.
In addition to the primary sculptures, the exhibition at Osh Gallery includes process models and archival research materials. Designboom notes the inclusion of a 2001 Walt Disney World map and an Abake map of Margate as contextual references. A short film directed by Dylan Hayes is also part of the display, documenting the mechanical kinematics and unique audio environments generated by these modular assemblies through January 2027.
The Industry Pulse Bottom Line
Suzuki’s exhibition demonstrates how traditional entertainment forms can be repurposed into acoustic engineering prototypes, suggesting a future for public architecture where auditory experience is as prioritized as visual form.