A 200-meter pedestrian tunnel beneath Chemnitz's main train station, colloquially known as the "Bazillenröhre" (Germ Tube), has been transformed into an innovative sound art installation that brings graffiti to life through audio. The project, titled "Visual Noise," is the work of Eginhartz Kanter, an artist based in Linz and Berlin, and represents part of Chemnitz's European Capital of Culture program.
The tunnel, once avoided by locals due to its dim lighting, dirt, and unpleasant odors, underwent renovation several years ago and now displays bright colors throughout its length. The space has become a canvas for graffiti artists, with tags and artwork covering nearly the entire 200-meter stretch. Kanter's installation adds an acoustic dimension to this visual landscape, creating what he describes as an attempt to translate "tags and graffiti into audiovisual noise."
Over the past several weeks, Kanter recorded approximately 100 Chemnitz residents as they attempted to decipher various graffiti tags throughout the tunnel. Armed with a microphone, he captured their voices as they tried to read and interpret the often illegible street art. These recordings have been transformed into what the artist calls "acoustic graffiti" – sound bites that play continuously from small speaker boxes mounted on the tunnel walls.
The technical execution of the project required meticulous craftsmanship from Kanter, who hand-built each of the 100 small sound modules. "I crafted small speakers," Kanter explained. "They consist of an MP3 module, a speaker, and a battery." Each device plays recordings in a continuous loop, broadcasting the voices of local residents as they attempted to decode the visual graffiti that inspired each particular sound piece.
The installation aims to disrupt daily routines and create what Kanter calls "small irritations" that encourage passersby to perceive everyday elements of urban life differently. "For many people, this is no longer perceptible in everyday life. You become a bit blind to this visual noise," the artist noted. By adding an auditory component to the typically silent visual medium of graffiti, Kanter hopes to reawaken people's awareness of their urban environment.
Visitors to the tunnel have responded positively to the "audible graffiti," with many stopping to listen, expressing curiosity, or simply smiling at the unexpected audio accompaniment to the visual art. The project serves as part of Chemnitz's broader cultural programming as a European Capital of Culture, which has attracted artists from across Europe to create works not only in traditional galleries and museums but also in public spaces throughout the city.
The "Visual Noise" installation will remain active for two weeks, transforming the daily commute through the former "Germ Tube" into an acoustic experience that challenges conventional perceptions of public art and urban space. Through this innovative approach, Kanter demonstrates how contemporary art can reimagine neglected urban infrastructure and create new possibilities for community engagement with public art.
