The text 'LISTEN TO THE BAT, AS LOUD AS THE HIGHWAY, SO HIGH YOU DON'T HEAR THEM, OR YET.' in corten steel letters along the boardwalk leads to the hotel ruin where the artwork by 26-year-old Brussels-based sound artist Hannah Lyssens is located. The park purchased the work and gave it a permanent place.
Lyssens, who works as an audio maker and sound artist, conceived the artwork specifically for the location. She explains that the work, despite not being a traditional sound installation, encourages visitors to truly listen. By imagining how the ultrasonic sounds of bats would sound, background noises like the highway fade away, and other sounds such as birdsong or the rustling of wind become audible.
Lyssens emphasizes that listening is a personal experience, influenced by memories and moods. With the artwork, she aims to highlight the importance of listening in our visually dominated world. The artwork, with letters deliberately hung at a viewpoint with a bench, encourages slowing down and pausing.
Lyssens drew inspiration for the work from sources including Vinciane Despré and her concept of Fonoceen, which suggests that listening to the environment can lead to better coexistence with nature, contrasting with the current 'noisy world'.
The choice of corten steel for the letters was deliberate. Lyssens, concerned about the planet's future, initially considered using old iron cabinets but found corten steel to be an easier and fitting alternative. Like sound, corten steel changes with its environment, and its coppery color complements the hotel ruin's palette.
Lyssens has already observed people interacting with the work. The slightly loose letters clink against the railing, encouraging visitors to listen and exchange thoughts, precisely as she intended.
Hannah Lyssens (°2000) is a Brussels-based audio maker and sound artist who graduated with a Master's in Audiovisual Arts from RITCS in 2023. She works part-time for the listening arts organization ‘aifoon’ and also creates freelance work at the intersection of sound art, podcast, research, and participation.
