Otto Reitano

5 Beautified Tunnels & Underpasses In Australia Shared By Otto Reitano

A singer, producer, and sound artist based in Eora (Sydney), Otto Reitano specialises in creating intricate, multichannel 3D compositions and soundscapes.


Formerly the frontman and lead songwriter of Cloud Daddy & the Kingston Big Smokes, who scored regular airplay on independent station FBi Radio, Otto is now releasing music under his own name.

Last month, Reitano released his debut solo single 'On My Mind' – a track that soars between fragilely beautiful indie pop and swirling, glistening electronica with lashings of electro-funk. "Made a song to celebrate being together with my darling shwife for 14 years."



His recent installation, an audio-visual collaboration with Electrolight titled 'My Friend The Tunnel' in Sydney's Martin Place Metro station's Muru Giligu tunnel, earned him an APRA/AMCOS award nomination.

"Tunnels, underpasses, and public thoroughfares can be some of the dullest and most boring parts of our cities," Otto says. "I love seeing these pieces of infrastructure made beautiful and pleasant – so here's a list of my favourite beautified tunnels and underpasses in Australia."

Muru Giligu (Path Of Light) - Martin Place, Sydney

Ok, this first one is a bit of a shameless plug – but the Muru Giligu tunnel underneath Martin Place currently features one of my own works, a multichannel ambient music and soundscape installation.

I collaborated with Electrolight on this, and the result is truly a beautiful pedestrian walkway that changes throughout the day and responds to pedestrian activity. By using all 32-channels of audio, the sounds travel up and down the tunnel, and even occasionally follow pedestrians as they venture through.

Check it out by going down the big escalator on the corner of Hunter St. and Castlereagh St. and turning right. It's the big tunnel with all the shiny lights – you can't miss it.


Light Line Social Square - Metro North West, Sydney

I don't often head out this far on the Metro, but as you travel past Cherrybrook along the Metro North West Line towards Tallawong, you realise the art is actually the whole environment.

The artists Michaelie Crawford and Peter McGregor used programmed lighting and features like mist fountains to make the stations respond to the rhythm of the day and the seasons – it's an awesome way to make people's commute more interesting and beautiful.

Interloop - Wynyard Station, Sydney

You have to pause and look up when you exit Wynyard Station via the York Street tunnel/ exit. I was completely mesmerised the first time I saw Chris Fox's massive sculpture, Interloop; 244 wooden treads from the old heritage escalators that used to be here have been twisted into this giant, looping Möbius strip. It's over 50 metres long and weighs five tonnes!

Aspire - Ultimo, Sydney

I remember coming across this one under a highway overpass and being totally stopped by it. The installation, Aspire by Warren Langley, uses light as the main material to transform the underpass into what looks like a glowing forest. The 'trees' are constructed from high-density polyethylene and illuminated with LED lighting.

The Melbourne Sound Tube - Melbourne

I was in an Uber driving through a section of the CityLink in Melbourne. It's a purely functional piece of infrastructure, but the lighting design by Electrolight completely transformed it. The way they concealed the light fixtures and used a changing spectrum of colour is a great example of how you can take a necessary, drab underpass and turn it into an iconic gateway to the city.