The exhibition "état bruit" at Konschthal Esch explores the concept of noise as a form of interference, cultural signal, and political tool. Featuring works by seven contemporary artists, including Nik Nowak’s Indonesian-inspired sound truck and Open Group’s haunting video installation of refugees mimicking artillery, the show investigates how sound reflects both community identity and the trauma of conflict.
This exhibition matters because it redefines noise not just as an acoustic nuisance, but as a medium for social and historical memory. By juxtaposing the celebratory nature of sound systems with the somber silence of mourning or the mechanical violence of war, the artists challenge viewers to consider how contemporary society processes, ignores, or weaponizes the signals that dominate our daily lives.