A long durational walk. A city symphony in 4 parts taking place in different spaces and times in Eindhoven.
As John Cage has insisted, "there is no such thing as silence. Something is always happening that makes a sound." Similarly, there is no such thing as an empty space. As long as the human body is actively listening and being heard, there is always the potential to create public spaces. The artistic research project “Cityphonic Walks” of Irini Kalogeropoulou that took place during the artistic residency at TAC investigates the phonē (the voice) of the city focusing on the invisible, silent, and unspoken aspects of everyday life.
How is the body heard in spaces of transit, in arenas of social interaction, in construction sites, in between countries and conflict zones were the fundamental questions to discover the sound of citizenship in Eindhoven’s city. The research project sought ways to expand the voice of the city through the concept of acoustic justice balancing between sound, silence, conflict and homemaking.
Walking, listening, field recordings, soundscape composition and the creation of verbal notation were the methods to uncover underlying power structures and social dynamics, which, while initially site-specific, ultimately reflect broader societal concerns.
In this way, the affective capacities of the soundscape and its ongoing role in shaping public spaces were brought to the surface, working towards strategies for a community-driven way of being together.
3rd movement: "The whole universe wants to be touched! Listen with me!"
Solo Exhibition
The whole universe wants to be touched! Listen with me! | Solo Exhibition - Artistic Residency TAC, June 2024, Eindhoven Netherlands | Photography by Ursa Prek
An exhibition where there’s nothing to see—only to hear. This exhibition takes the form of a curated walk through sonic landscapes from all the sites the audience and the artist has visited during the soundwalks. It is designed for listening while walking, sitting, drinking, or dancing in the space. It explores the term cityphonic juxtaposing silenced narratives with sonic ephemeral events of urban life transitioning from the inner to the outer realms of the city’s collective body.
The artistic research project 'Cityphonic Walks' (soundwalk and solo exhibition) was carried out during Irini's Kalogeropoulou one-month artistic residency at the Temporary Art Center.
May-June 2024 | Eindhoven, Netherlands
