“Speaking Willow” is a permanent interactive sound art installation and sculpture designed for Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, installed at Planet Word Museum in Washington DC.

“Speaking Willow is a biomimetic sculpture with speakers that gently sway in the wind and respond to the presence of passers-by. The interaction is subtle and evokes the fragility and beauty of spoken communication, aural perception, and oral history. The recordings consist of general statements relating to each language and its culture, highlighting the distinct rhythms, intonations, emphases, and textures that make each one unique.”

Speaking Willow celebrates the world’s rich linguistic diversity. As visitors pass beneath the tree’s branches, they activate the bell-shaped speakers suspended directly overhead. Each speaker has been programmed with sample recordings of a different language. Together, they represent the native tongues of over 99% of the planet’s population. A walk around Speaking Willow evokes a journey around the world; it reminds us that language is what defines our specific communities and connects our many cultures.

Aluminum sculpture, custom-made speakers and electronics, LED lights, computer, patch bays, 365 unique language recordings on micro-SD cards, 3D cameras, and 3.6 miles (5.8 km) of Ethernet cable

3D Design and Visualization by Kitae Kim. Rhino, Grasshopper, Unreal, VR.