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
black contours trace iconic sound waveforms from music classics | image by Maris Mezulis
undulating waveforms give shape to the normally invisible patterns of sound
visitors move through a space where sound becomes both seen and felt | image by Maris Mezulis
the piece transforms the fairground into an interactive sonic landscape | 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
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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