Invisible Architecture in a Tunnel

Site-specific research; workshop; USB, HD movie, stereo, 21’09’’; audio cassette, raw field recordings without electronic effects, side A: 15’13”, side B: 15’00”; 2015 & 2019. A project by Christian Galarreta and Janneke van der Putten. Listen here to the soundtrack sample.

In this edition of ’Invisible Architecture’ Chrs Galarreta and Janneke van der Putten research the acoustic qualities of a monumental site, a 500-meter-long tunnel under the Maas River. The Maastunnel (Rotterdam, NL) is explored through different experiences and ways of listening: by doing sound-walks and performative interventions, and by recording sounds that are sometimes (in)audible to human ears. The sounds, generated by people and machines in the tunnel, were recorded using ambient microphones, homemade contact microphones and electromagnetic antennas, and a hydrophone, making audible the hidden ‘voices’ from the mechanical sounds and the resonating space. The activities of workers, visitors and machines are acoustically affected (filtered) and amplified by the architecture and the landscape. This sound-space was perceived as a sound-being in constant and subtle metamorphosis.

show index

credits

‘I.A. Maastunnel’ was recorded and performed at the Maastunnel, Rotterdam (NL) in September 2015. Published by Aloardi, 2019 (Alo 061). Edition of 50 copies. Design by Yoana Buzova in collaboration with Galarreta and van der Putten. Production by van der Putten. Thanks to W_Lfrt project spaces, the Maastunnel crew, Peter van Gemst and Anton Ruiter. Supported by the City of Rotterdam and Mya Cultural Fund.

Video ‘I.A. Maastunnel’ (USB, HD movie, stereo, 21’09’’) Directed by Galarreta and van der Putten. Camera by Mihail Bakalov and van der Putten. Sound recordings and video editing by Galarreta and van der Putten. Audio editing by Galarreta. Performed by Gwen van den Bout, Ellen van Eldik, Christian Galarreta, Mike Kramer, Patrícia Pinheiro de Sousa, Janneke van der Putten and Lichun Tseng.

Soundtrack ‘I.A. Maastunnel’ (audio cassette, raw field recordings without electronic effects, side A: 15’13”, side B: 15’00”) Tracks A1, A2, B1 and B3 recorded by Galarreta. Track B2 recorded and performed by Gwen van den Bout, Ellen van Eldik, Christian Galarreta, Mike Kramer, Patrícia Pinheiro de Sousa, Janneke van der Putten and Lichun Tseng. Track B4 recorded by van der Putten. Audio editing by Galarreta.

Design by Yoana Buzova in collaboration with Galarreta and van der Putten.
Design by Yoana Buzova in collaboration with Galarreta and van der Putten.
Design by Yoana Buzova in collaboration with Galarreta and van der Putten.
Design by Yoana Buzova in collaboration with Galarreta and van der Putten.