Max Neuhaus Time Square Installation – Reaction Paper
As Kessler and I approach the north end of the triangle between 44th and 45th in Time Square, I begin to look for some sort of indication of the Max Neuhaus sound installation, but there’s nothing. It isn’t until I realize that I’m standing on top of it, that I recognize the sound. I’d gotten too caught up in the masses of people, cars honking, videos flashing on the screens and the overall chaos of the area to tune into the hum of the installation. I questioned at first if that slight hum was all that there was to the installation. But the longer I stood and focused on the hum coming from the grate on the sidewalk that blends in like the subway vents, my surroundings seemed to become distant. The sounds of the cars and people around me quieted. The chaos and overwhelming nature of the area dissipated, and I was able to be calm for a second. To just stand there and take in the famous location without the stress that I usually associate with massive crowds of people intersecting and crossing paths.
This installation, in my opinion, was the perfect surprise to stumble upon. It’s interesting to think about the thousands of people, tourists and those who live in the city, that have walked over that grate and didn’t even realize that it was there. It makes knowing about the installation even more special given that not many would stop in all the commotion to single out the sound of a faint, but calming hum. Time Square is nothing short of a sensory overload, and having Max Neuhaus’ sound installation apart of that experience allows you to take in the sight without overloading yourself. The anxiety, that at least I associate with Time Square, was reduced almost entirely.
For a link to my reaction paper: https://drive.google.com/a/newschool.edu/file/d/0B-W8aV_6La1eRzF2QTkzVmdWcVE/view?usp=sharing
