Symphony for Bicycles is an interactive sound installation and performance created by artists Alexey Grachev and Alexander Bochkov. In this work, the bicycle ceases to be merely a means of transport and becomes a generative musical instrument.

How the installation works

The heart of the project is cadence: the pedaling speed generated by the cyclist. Through sensors and advanced software (Max/MSP), this mechanical parameter is analyzed and transformed in real-time into sounds and rhythms.

• Mechanical harmony: The carrier frequency of the sound is determined by the front chainring, while the gear ratios selected via the shifters act like the tones of a musical instrument.
• Dialogue between cyclists: The installation features two bicycles placed facing each other. The final result is a four-voice atonal polyphony that depends entirely on the interaction between the two participants. Cyclists can choose to pedal in sync to find harmony or challenge each other, creating complex and unpredictable harmonic fluctuations.

The artistic vision and presence in the NOVA Eroica Buonconvento Village

MADE IN CYLAND uses this installation to explore the concept of the human-bicycle "techno-assemblage". The goal is to reveal rhythms and hidden connections in space, demonstrating that every technological object can have an aesthetic and sonic function that goes beyond its original purpose.

The installation will be open within the NOVA Eroica Village at the following times:

• Friday, April 10th at 7:00 PM.
• Saturday, April 11th at 6:00 PM.

For more details on CYLAND's mission and their works, visit www.cyland.org.