I. Scientific Conference

II. Research–Creation Program

📅 May 7–8, 2026
📍 Higher Institute of Music of Sousse / Higher Institute of Fine Arts of Sousse

🏛️ Organizers

• Higher Institute of Music of Sousse
• Higher Institute of Fine Arts of Sousse

In partnership with:

• Doctoral School “Letters and Human Sciences”
  (Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences of Sousse)

I. SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

🎯 Argument

The relationship between music and visual arts represents one of the most profound forms of aesthetic interaction in human history.
From Walter Pater’s (1839–1894) famous assertion that “all arts aspire to the condition of music”, through the experiments of Vassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) and Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) seeking to express musical rhythms visually, inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s (1882–1971) rhythmic revolution that reshaped the temporal perception of the arts, to the kinetic sculptures of Jean Tinguely (1925–1991) that materialize rhythm as a visible entity — the dialogue between these two creative fields has continually embodied the idea of artistic interconnection.

In the digital age, this interaction undergoes a radical transformation — moving from formal resemblance to structural and programmable homology.
Rhythm, as an aesthetic phenomenon linking humans to the cosmos, is transformed from an intuitive and sensory entity into a mathematically measurable system, subject to algorithmic analysis.

This conference aims to explore these fundamental intersections between sound and image through a distinctly transdisciplinary approach.
The epistemic novelty of the digital era lies in the conversion of the two media — auditory and visual — into a unified digital code (Digital Encoding), governed by data streams and capable of automated processing.

This structural homology between the two artistic domains opens up new research perspectives, dissolving traditional disciplinary boundaries and giving rise to multimodal spaces where sound and image interact in an organic unity.

In this context, several key questions emerge:

• How can musical algorithms generate visual structures that resonate rhythmically and aesthetically (as in VJing)?
• How does the “composite rhythm” resulting from the interlacing of the two creative domains (auditory and visual) manifest itself in digital environments?
• What is the impact of these interactive and creative intersections on the relationship between the “creator” and the “audience”?
• To what extent can we speak of the authenticity of the artwork when artificial intelligence becomes an active partner in the joint creative process between sound and image?
• How do multisensory immersive arts redefine the creative act and its modes of reception?

These questions go beyond theory, engaging directly with current artistic practice — where multisensory digital works act as living laboratories for the structural integration of distinct expressive systems.

Following this reflection, the proposed conference themes are:

• Axis 1: Rhythm as a conceptual bridge — from analogy to digital homology.
• Axis 2: Sound–image semiotics — new configurations of meaning in multimedia environments.
• Axis 3: Interactivity of the digital medium — reconfiguring the roles of creator and audience.
• Axis 4: Artificial intelligence and creation — new creative syntheses and ethical issues.
• Axis 5: Post-digital aesthetics — towards a multimedia artistic language.
• Axis 6: Synesthesia in the digital age.

This conference seeks to understand these deep transformations by combining theoretical approaches with practical applications, developing a critical and conceptual discourse capable of keeping pace with this evolving multidisciplinary field.

🌍 Conference Languages

• Arabic
• French
• English

🧾 Proposal Submission

Proposals must be submitted exclusively online using the following link:

👉 Submit your proposal

II. RESEARCH–CREATION

“Rhythms and Metamorphoses: Interactions between Sound, Music, and Visual Arts”

Rhythm connects sound, gesture, and image. It flows across musical and visual fields — transforming, shifting, and reshaping itself.
This call invites artists, musicians, video makers, visual artists, performers, designers, and creators from all disciplines to submit works exploring the interactions between sound, music, and visual arts through the theme of rhythm and its metamorphoses.

Objective

The goal is to encourage artistic creation where the dialogue between sound and image generates new perceptions of rhythm —
as pulsation, as movement, and as a sensitive transformation of time and space.

Possible Themes

• Dialogues between sound and image
• Visual and musical rhythms
• Transformations of sound and light
• Relationships between movement, color, and sound vibration
• The body as a bridge between music and image

Participation Guidelines

• Open to everyone — no age limit or artistic background required.
• Works may take various forms: installations, performances, videos, interactive pieces, sound compositions, or digital creations.
• Collective and interdisciplinary projects are particularly encouraged.

🗓️ Important Dates

🧾 Proposal Submission

Proposals must be submitted exclusively online using the following link:

👉 Submit your proposal

General Coordination

🧒 Amine Zouari, University of Sousse, ISM

Scientific Committee

Chair

👩‍🏫 Faten Chouba Skhiri, Professor, University of Sousse, Higher Institute of Fine Arts

Members

• Amine Zouari, University of Sousse
• Anas Ghrab, University of Sousse
• Anis Meddeb, University of Tunis
• Donia Bettaieb, King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia)
• Fakher Hakima, University of Sousse
• Mohamed Essghaier Gaied, University of Sousse
• Moncef Mahwachi, University of Sfax
• Raif Malek, King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia)
• Rym Mansour, University of Sousse
• Saifallah Ben Abderrazek, University of Tunis
• Sami Bechir, University of Sousse
• Wissem Gollala, University of Sousse

Organizing Committee

• Amal Tekari, University of Sousse, ISBA
• Bochra Abdesslem, University of Sousse, ISBA
• Hela Hedhili Hammo, University of Sousse, ISBA
• Helmi Mahfoudhi, University of Sousse, ISM
• Imed Ghedamsi, University of Sousse, ISM
• Kinza Sahraoui, University of Sousse, ISBA
• Meriam Rhif, University of Sousse, ISBA
• Nedia Zarmdini, University of Sousse, ISM
• Nesrine Mediouni, University of Sousse, ISBA
• Rania Jomai, University of Sousse, ISBA
• Refka Sassi, University of Sousse, ISM
• Wassim Chahed, University of Sousse, ISM

💰 Participation Fees

The participation fee includes:
- Registration fees
- On-site catering (lunch and coffee breaks)
- Welcome and documentation kits
- Access to conference proceedings and publications

Transportation costs remain the responsibility of international participants.

📬 Contact

For further information, please contact us at:
✉️ interactions2026@nadwa.tn