Elisava alumnus David Hernández has led ARS Gràcia, a sound and visual installation developed by Artificia that transforms the metro transfer corridor at Passeig de Gràcia into an immersive experience for three months. The project was selected as the winner among 52 proposals submitted to the challenge aimed at improving the user experience in this section of the station. This was promoted by the Barcelona City Council, TMB, the BIT Habitat Foundation, and the Barcelona Music Lab Foundation.

How ARS Gràcia works

ARS Gràcia blends art and artificial intelligence to turn daily transit into a sensory experience. Powered by the ARS AI system, each person walking through the corridor becomes a “note” that activates real-time sound, visual, and light patterns. The result is a living, organic environment that constantly evolves depending on foot traffic, movement, and public interaction.

The installation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Barcelona metro, reclaiming public transport as a shared cultural space. In ARS Gràcia, the sounds of the city and the flow of passengers merge into an audiovisual landscape that transforms the connection between lines 3 and 4 into a collective composition.

In addition to the interactive experience, ARS Gràcia includes a dedicated stage for musicians from the Associació de Músics del Carrer i del Metro de Barcelona (AMUC). This space offers enhanced acoustic conditions and allows performers to elevate their live sets through integrated visual technology—an opportunity to spotlight local talent and bring music closer to thousands of commuters.

A cultural innovation project with urban impact

Implemented as a pilot test, the installation has received €50,000 in funding (around 80% of the project’s total budget), along with a €3,000 award. ARS Gràcia is an initiative by Artificia, a Catalan platform dedicated to promoting the use of artificial intelligence in the arts, supported by IIIA-CSIC, Kreomúsica, and AMUC.