Hakan Kurşun, a trailblazer in the Turkish music scene, is bringing the city’s streets to life through his captivating sound exhibition in Hanau.
A guitarist, composer, producer, sound researcher, lecturer, album creator, and soundscape artist—Hakan Kurşun is a force of nature in the music world. Known for his relentless energy and constant creative drive, he embodies a production-oriented mindset, never content to stand still. His latest project is the permanent sound exhibition Regeneration Klangweg Hanau (Sound Road Hanau) in Hanau, Germany. After performing at the exhibition’s opening concert with bassist Eylem Pelit and drummer Ediz Hafızoğlu, I sat down with him to understand the inspiration behind this endeavor.
Why Hanau? What is your personal connection to the city?
I was born in Hanau. My mother worked as a gynecologist at the Hanau hospital from 1964 to 1970, and my father was the human resources coordinator at the Dunlop GoodYear factory. My grandmother also moved here to help take care of us. We visited Hanau nearly every week because she lived here. It was an important part of our lives until 1981. After I moved to Turkey, Hanau remained with me, a city full of beautiful memories and my birthplace.
How did you get in touch with the administration of the city of Hanau?
The attacks in Hanau on February 19, 2020, deeply affected me. For years, I had been observing efforts to integrate communities through an integration approach, and I had also tried to integrate into the cities I lived in. At that time, I realized that the integration model wasn’t quite right for a progressive and participatory society. I believe a participatory approach is what we need. So, I wrote a letter to the city administration, explaining that as a composer, I wanted to create unique musical installations in public spaces for my birthplace. Thankfully, they introduced me to the cultural and artistic administration, and together with Mr. Martin Hoppe, the Head of Culture, City, and International Relations, we developed the project over the course of about three years.
What was the main idea behind the project?
I wanted to create a sound path. With the sounds I designed, my aim was to alter the existing flow of time and mask the surrounding noise. I envisioned auditory spaces where people could think and dream while walking. Hanau’s market square plays a central role in the city—every week, various markets open, and it’s where the community meets, connects, and integrates. I wanted to bring this participatory market atmosphere into other parts of the city through music. My focus was on inner participation—questioning how sound can reflect both the past and present while imagining a future of unity and inclusion. I aimed to express migration as a natural life impulse through music, shining a light on international communities and reinforcing democratic values.
