inflatable sound wave installation stretches along basel’s messeplatz for eurovision

Claudia Comte composes 52-meter inflatable sound sculpture

Lightning Symphony by Swiss artist Claudia Comte is a 52-meter inflatable sound sculpture on Basel’s Messeplatz, created for the Eurovision Song Contest. Shaped like giant undulating sound waves, it invites visitors to walk through a glowing, rhythmic corridor where music becomes a physical and visual experience. Located next to the ESC Village, the installation celebrates sound, movement, and community as a universal language.

From the outside, the flowing black contours trace the iconic waveforms of popular classics and modern anthems, giving shape to what would otherwise remain invisible. Inside, LED lights pulse in rhythmic waves outward, animating the structure with a glowing heartbeat, a luminous, meditative encounter with music in motion.

all images courtesy of Claudia Comte unless stated otherwise

Lightning Symphony celebrates rhythm, community, and sound

As the artistic centerpiece of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Lightning Symphony is a vibrant celebration of rhythm, community, and the unifying power of sound. ‘For the Eurovision Song Contest, I wanted to create an immersive installation that pays tribute to the deep interaction between sound, movement, and contemporary art. This installation, called Lightning Symphony, transforms the fairground into both a stage and a place of refuge. It is a symbol of community and invites all people, regardless of origin, language, or background, to experience music as a universal language that transcends borders,’ shares Swiss artist Claudia Comte.

Lightning Symphony spans 52 meters as an inflatable sound sculpture on Basel’s Messeplatz

the installation invites visitors to walk through a glowing, wave-shaped corridor

the form visualizes music as a physical, spatial experience | image by Maris Mezulis

positioned beside the ESC Village, the sculpture connects sound, space, and community | image by Maris Mezulis

glowing curves create a meditative atmosphere in motion

rhythmic lighting immerses visitors in a sensory interpretation of sound

the project transforms sound into a shared visual and physical journey

project info:

name: Lightning Symphony
designer: Claudia Comte | @claudiacomte

production, technical conception, manufacturing & installation: Digital Inflatables | @digitalinflatables

support: Christoph Merian Foundation | @christophmerianstiftung

location: Basel, Switzerland

photographer: Maris Mezulis | @mariocee, Claudia Comte

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom