Shall we meet under the blue sky?
AXIS Vol.178
The people in these vehicles come together and split apart as they please under the blue sky, enjoying the flow of scenery and the caressing wind. The image is like that of a sailboat finding its way through the open sea. Music plays intermittently, and the participants can tap out rhythms. These “vehicular instruments” deliver both the exhilarating feeling of gliding and the emotional high of performing, challenging conventional notions of wheelchairs.
Power-assist wheelchairs expose users to new experiences, guiding their exploration with the feel of a tailwind. The &Y01 is based on the power-assist wheelchair, and is capable of playing music while in motion through the thin, sail-like speaker attached to the back of the chair. Also, the wheels feature thin percussion elements on each side, making them into percussion instruments. &Y01 wheelchair-instruments were used in a performance in 2015 that people could take part in regardless of their physical capabilities.