The Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has created an urban treat for pedestrians of the technology age with his interactive Voice Tunnel, the headlining event of New York City Summer Streets 2013. Voice Tunnel transforms the 1,400 foot long Park Avenue tunnel that spans East 33rd to East 40th Street into a pedestrian walkway fitted with lights and speakers. Recordings from the public modulate the voltage strength of 300 evenly spaced theatrical spotlights that flicker in waves along the walls of the passage. Large speakers mounted near the floor accompany each light and play a separate recording every few seconds, including momentary confessions, love proclamations, random noises, and foreign languages. Every few minutes, the lights switch off and the tunnel is obscured in momentary darkness and silence, an awe-inspiring contrast to the cacophony of the human voice orchestra. Existing somewhere on the border between interactive design, engineering, and performance art, Voice Tunnel is one art event truly worth standing in line for. ANNA SHUKEYLO
The last chance to experience Voice Tunnel is on Saturday, August 17th from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The entrance is at 33rd Street and Park Avenue.
