Anechoic chamber, France Telecom Laboratories, Lannion, France Possibly 1989 - 2006

Lewis Baltz captured this photograph inside an anechoic chamber at France Telecom Laboratories. Notice the peculiar spiky forms covering every surface? These acoustic wedges absorb sound waves, creating a space devoid of echo—a modern temple dedicated to silence. But consider how this image resonates with primal fears and fascinations. The chamber's geometry evokes the labyrinth, a space historically laden with psychological weight. Think of the myth of the Minotaur's labyrinth—a place of both enclosure and disorientation, mirroring our subconscious. The spikes could also be interpreted as a field of stalactites, echoing the symbolism of caves as places of initiation and transformation across cultures. The anechoic chamber, in its stark modernity, becomes another iteration of these timeless motifs, tapping into our collective memory. The stark silence amplifies our inner voices, making this a space ripe for introspection. It speaks to the enduring human quest for knowledge and control, even as it confronts us with our own vulnerability.