OVERGROWN
FRONT404
Overgrown is an interactive light installation where the vines of a vast, illuminated climbing plant envelop the walls of the bustling Van Sijpesteijntunnel. When the tunnel is unoccupied, the plant’s trunk glimmers softly, casting an expectant glow along the wall. However, as a cyclist or pedestrian traverses the tunnel, the greenery springs to life, transforming the space into a dynamic experience.
AUDIOTOUR
Overgrown: An interactive light installation that brings the Van Sijpesteijn Tunnel to life.
Overgrown playfully captures the dynamic flow of traffic through the tunnel, reflecting the natural rhythms of daily life. Cyclists and pedestrians bustle through the city each day, moving along this ‘expressway’ by the station. As the silence of the night fades, the morning and evening rush hours swell with a vibrant stream of people, bringing life and light to this otherwise dark and dreary passage. I Light U invites you to step away from the relentless grind and be surprised by their colourful installation.
FRONT404
FRONT404 is an artist duo from Utrecht that creates interactive installations. Through accessible and direct interaction, they aim to engage people in innovative, meaningful, and playful ways. Their work seeks unexpected connections and focuses on creating memorable experiences, driven by the belief that these moments inspire people to view the world from a new perspective.
Many of FRONT404’s projects reflect their mission to make the world a more playful place – a place where art not only surprises but also connects and invites a sense of wonder.
ALIVE through the eyes of the artist
With Overgrown, we reflect on what the theme Alive means for a city. A city is alive through its people – they bring it to life and keep it moving. Cities are often compared to living organisms: networks of roads as veins and arteries, where people move through them like sap in a tree or blood in a body. Overgrown is located in one of Utrecht’s “arteries,” with a busy flow of cyclists and pedestrians breathing life into the city.
At the same time, cities have often sought to suppress wild, untamed nature with grey concrete and asphalt. This grey atmosphere is also felt in and around the tunnel. Yet nature continues to find its way, even in the most unexpected places: in abandoned corners, through grass and trees breaking through concrete, and climbing plants overtaking walls.
Overgrown shows both ways in which a city is alive. Passersby bring the giant, luminous plant on the tunnel wall to life, while the plant, in turn, adds light, color, and playfulness to the grey tunnel. This creates an interplay where the city, people, and nature reinforce one another and come alive together.
