"Heart ad libitum / CUBE" is an interactive sound performance by sound and visual artist Pascal Holper, in which the heart becomes both sound source and instrument.

Inside a transparent cube, the performer sits in isolation - visible, yet physically separated. His heartbeat is captured through a chest-mounted stethoscope, amplified, and manipulated in real time, creating an improvised symphony originating within the very essence of our existence.

Through headphones, visitors enter moments of focused intimacy, delving deep into the captivating cadences, melodies, and stories of the heart - venturing into the core of our innermost emotions.

A second stethoscope placed outside the cube enables visitors to become collaborators - engaging with their own heartbeat and creating resonance with the performer’s. In this shared sonic space, intimate, unscripted interactions unfold - a dialogue of hearts beyond language and words, based on presence, sensitivity and attention. Raw, fragile and deeply human.

The transparent cube - a dividing membrane between self and world, a threshold of physical, emotional, and social isolation - is pierced by the heart as a bridge. Connection emerges as a thread of humanity slipping through barriers, silence and separation.

The term ad libitum - “as desired” - invites improvisation and spontaneity, empowering the heart to break free from all constraints and express itself freely. There is no fixed score; the sound arises from the moment, from inner perception, and from the encounter between performer and visitor.

This performance is a poetic reflection on mindfulness, acceptance, transience, and moments of stillness in which the seemingly insignificant becomes visible. It illuminates tensions such as isolation, the potential for openness, and the influence of societal conformity.

It also addresses the experience of loss - both within the individual and in interpersonal relationships. It engages with themes of communication and a deeper understanding of harmony - honoring the beauty of asynchronicity, difference, diversity, and individuality - and the magic of dialogue, understood as mutual perception, allowing transformation to emerge.

"Heart ad libitum / CUBE" is an invitation to an unscripted, intimate sonic journey that fosters a deep sense of empathy and connection. It encourages us to listen attentively - not only to the music of the heart, but also to the stories it longs to share - stories that remind us of the profound and beautiful journey that is life itself.


For booking inquiries, please write to: info@pascalholper.com


With the kind support of Eko Health (providing CORE 500 Stethoscopes).
Photos by Sancho Holper.