Hearing the City (2023)

 

"Hearing the City"
Bio Andaru
Materials: Iron, acrylic, polyurethane, acrylic board, paper
Dimensions: Varied dimensions
 Year: 2023

Hearing the City embodies the spirit of urban chaos through visual language and the tangible essence of sound. This concept is realized by merging symbolic forms, materials, and intricate colors. Hearing the City is presented as a three dimensional ear sculpture made of irregular iron constructions, melting-like surfaces, and moss-green hues. Visually, the sculpture conveys that listening to the city is neither a passive nor neutral process—it is fraught with tension. The city's noise—both literal, such as honking horns, machinery, and crowds, and figurative, like social and economic pressures—renders the "ear" fragile, as though unable to withstand its intensity. For marginalized communities, urban sounds are not just physical disturbances but also symbols of inequality and the burdens of city life. The noise of construction reflects gentrification that displaces local communities and can also symbolize stagnation and helplessness. This piece highlights how marginalized individuals, constantly subjected to the city's clamor, often feel unseen and overlooked. Aesthetically, the sculpture is a metaphor for the psychological and emotional exhaustion caused by systemic injustices. It delivers a sharp critique of urban life, emphasizing that the chaos of the city is not merely auditory but also a persistent social and emotional weight, particularly for the most vulnerable. Listening to the city leaves the ear melting and moss-covered, a poignant reflection of the toll of urban existence.