On July 15, 23, and 28, 2020, SPACE21 brought The Listening Biennial to the streets of Slemani, Kurdistan, transforming the city’s public buses into vibrant, mobile listening spaces. As part of this innovative project, everyday bus riders became audiences, encountering a diverse array of audio works by international artists of The Listening Biennial alongside specially invited local talents, including Khabat Abas, Amer Ali, Zana Rasoul, Hani Mojtahedy, and Hardi Kurda.

Over the course of three evenings, the familiar rhythms of public transport were reimagined as spaces for immersive sonic engagement. Passengers were invited to listen deeply as the bus traversed the city, with curated sound art turning each journey into a unique, collective experience. The initiative not only brought contemporary sound art to new audiences but also encouraged reflection on the social, spatial, and sensory dimensions of everyday urban life.