Visual artist Hans Rosenström, who is creating a light and sound installation for the Espoonlahti metro station, has already tested out light and sound effects for his future artwork at the Koivusaari metro station. His aim was especially to see how light behaves on excavated rock surface.
“I had previously tested the projection of light onto the even ceiling of Helsinki’s Theatre Academy, but testing it out on an excavated rock surface is an entirely different matter,” says Rosenström.
Rosenström carried out his tests at night, examining both the intensity of light required for the installation and the height the light projectors should be set at in order to achieve the desired result. His finished installation will represent shadows on the water, inspired by the swimming-hall-themed architecture of the Espoonlahti metro station.
“The angle of reflection, for example, affects the outcome. The testing was successful, and now I know where I should go with the installation. I still need to carry out new tests before the installation is brought to the station, but this test proves that the idea works,” says Rosenström.
His installation will also include sound – he is collaborating with singers, and the final installation will include sound showers, which commuters will only be able to hear if they are standing in a certain area of the metro platform.
Some regular speakers will also be used to project sound slightly further in the station if necessary.
“In the Koivusaari test, I also wanted to know how much sound echoes in the space, and it was surprisingly clear. There will be no loud sounds at any point in the installation; the end result will be a rising and falling soundscape. It will be important to find an interesting balance between sound, silence and space,” says Rosenström.
The aim is to create, together with singers, an extended recording that will be programmed to start at a different time every day to ensure that, for example, commuters in 8 a.m. rush hour will not always hear the same part of the recording every day.
“The final installation, including lights and sounds, will only be installed at the Espoonlahti station’s platform once the station is completed, but the testing provides a concrete dimension for realising the installation, which will also be shaped based on the tests,” says Rosenström.
