“stop and scan the roses” is a stereo audio experience targeted towards commuters taking line 2 of the o-train.
how do we encourage presence in states and spaces of liminality?
Stop and Smell the Roses is an audio-based project inspired by Ottawa’s O-Train Line 2, a slower and quieter route that sits outside the urgency of Line 1. Using field recordings of mechanical train sounds and overheard conversations, the work treats the commute as an in-between space and asks how presence might be encouraged within it. The audio, designed for headphone listening, is accessed through small, discreet QR codes placed in transit spaces, rewarding those who pause and pay attention. Rather than adding spectacle, the project offers a subtle shift — reframing the daily ride as a moment worth noticing.