International Archives Congress

Created for the International Council on Archives Congress in collaboration with OFFF Studio, this installation redefines how we interact with the past. The piece turns a massive digital archive into a living, responsive visual ecosystem where historical memory meets interactive technology.

At Onionlab, we designed a large-scale LED installation where more than 125,000 archival documents—spanning ten centuries from the 11th to the 21st century—ceased to be static records and became a constantly evolving system of light, data, and movement.

The experience is powered by OnInOff technology, which translates historical records and metadata into a fluid, dynamic stream of images. The screens act as a digital canvas where centuries of information flow continuously, blending deep historical depth with a contemporary aesthetic language.

Central to the installation is the intuitive interaction that bridges the gap between the visitor and the data. With a simple hand gesture, users could pause the constant flow of information, open a specific document, and step directly into a precise moment in history.

This gesture-controlled mechanism transforms a traditional archival consultation into a physical, tangible experience. By allowing people to actively influence what they are seeing, the encounter becomes deeply personal, engaging, and memorable for each visitor.

The auditory dimension of the space is shaped by a custom soundscape by Absis. The music is tightly integrated with the visual rhythm, enhancing the atmosphere of immersion and creating a cohesive audiovisual environment where light, sound, and history are deeply interconnected.