Urban Static is an immersive, multisensory project that explores synesthesia by focusing on the sense of hearing and its relationship to New York City’s urban environment. Inspired by the city’s vibrant chaos, constant noise, and dynamic street life, the project translates these sensory experiences into an interactive artwork that stimulates sight, sound, touch, and smell simultaneously.
The selected reference piece is a 2016 mural by Tats Cru, located in Coney ArtWalls, an outdoor street art museum in Coney Island. This New York-based collective is widely recognized for its role in legitimizing graffiti as a form of art and for its deep ties to urban cultural identity. The mural was reimagined through technology and storytelling, allowing viewers not only to see the artwork, but to “hear” and feel it—immersing them in the heart of the city.
The creative process integrated various technologies: 3D printing in filament and resin, Arduino-activated sensors, LED lights, servomotors, a scent box, video mapping, and augmented reality. Iconic New York elements—like the rat, hot dog, subway train, and fire hydrant—were transformed into animated characters within a visual-urban narrative that enhances noise, movement, and disorder as expressive tools.
The primary goal was to design an artistic experience that emotionally and sensorially connects the user to the urban context of graffiti, turning the artwork into a living manifestation of the city. Urban Static demonstrates how art, technology, and street culture can converge to tell stories, trigger sensations, and reshape how public space is perceived.
This project also highlights the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. By combining design, programming, animation, and storytelling, the team created a hybrid space where the digital and physical merge. The use of ambient sounds, interactive lighting, and olfactory elements not only amplifies the viewer’s engagement but also reinforces the message that cities are experienced through all senses—not just the visual. Through this immersive lens, Urban Static invites reflection on how urban art can provoke memory, identity, and connection in contemporary public life.