shinjuku electrical walk
2023 _ 90’min _ active listening

soma ether v2
zoom h6

since 2004, christina kubisch has developed her electrical walks in 93 cities around the world. checking the archive, I realized tokyo was not listed, despite the tests for the project being conducted there the year before.

as my interest in non-audible frequencies continues to grow through projects like signal extraction and three movements for cellphone I decided to design a route around shinjuku station during my stay in the city. the area is likely one of the most densely packed electromagnetic landscapes on the planet. the high concentration of electronic devices, communications infrastructure, and the sheer density of people, combined with the fact that shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative center filled with skyscrapers, shopping centers, and train stations, all contribute to a significant electromagnetic presence. the neighbourhood is also a hub for telecommunications, with numerous cell towers, wi-fi networks, and other forms of wireless communication technology operating simultaneously.
on the walk, it's easy to hear hundreds of sounds produced by lighting systems, cellphones, traffic lights, atms, vending machines, surveillance cameras, pachinko games, neon advertising, anti-theft security devices, intercoms, luggage stores, and more. the noises vary in timbre, tone, and rhythm. some are unique, while others are generic. some are extremely unpleasant, and some are even musical.

“the density of what I hear increases continuously; there are almost no ‘electrical silences’ anymore. I am often asked what this means for us, for our bodies, our health, our brains. I am not a scientist, but we are in a period of significant change—not only changes in lifestyle but a general transformation of our environment. we respond to it, but we do not know what the consequences may be.” —christina kubisch, hidden resonance (spectres II)