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Photos: Park Avenue's Trippy Voice Tunnel
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 4, 2013
Modified Aug 4, 2013
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 4, 2013
Modified Aug 4, 2013
Share
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Yesterday, people were waiting on line for an art installation but instead of rain, they were waiting for a voice-and-light show in the Park Avenue Tunnel—Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's Voice Tunnel.
Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer transformed the interior of 1,400-foot tunnel with loudspeakers and spotlights—the tunnel is illuminated with pulsating lights "powered" by visitors' voices. Photographer Tod Seelie visited the exhibit yesterday at 9 a.m. and he tells us:
There was a long line to get in but it moved quickly, and you had to sign a waiver. The lights and sound alternate on and off, surging from the center of the tunnel when they come on. In the middle you can line up to contribute your own words (or noises, as seemed popular) to be broadcast on the top of the chaotic crescendo. The lights were intense but not overwhelming, the sound however definitely started to overpower the sound of your own thoughts by the time you reached the other end of the tunnel (I may have spent longer down there than most people).
He added, "Being in a tunnel in mostly darkness, in the breaks before the lights came back, full of strangers was also a unique experience." Here's a GIF stitched from some of Tod's photos:
Others took videos:
Voice Tunnel is part of this year's Summer Streets. You can experience it on August 10 and August 17.
Tagged
Park avenue
summer streets
voice tunnel
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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