The world is quietly undergoing its sixth mass extinction event. This means that plant and animal species are lost at a rate so quickly that it parallels what happened 65.6 million years ago when dinosaurs were wiped from existence. The phenomenon has been induced by climate change and human beings are at the centre of it all. Icelandic artist and musician Björk has worked with her partner, curator and artist ALEPH to create a sound installation at the Centre Pompidou, Paris, to raise people’s awareness of the phenomenon.
The piece, titled Nature Manifesto, combines Björk’s haunting vocals with the ethereal calls of extinct animals. It was produced in collaboration with the Institut de recherche et coordination acoustique/musique (Ircam) and several Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, creating an engaging piece that calls for people’s attention. As the piece’s title suggests, it is a manifesto read by Björk, outlining the severity of today’s mass extinction. The manifesto also stated that they are calling for the world’s authorities to take urgent action as they gathered at COP29, the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference. This is why Nature Manifesto by Björk and ALEPH is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Life on Land.
Nature Manifesto pt.1 by Björk and ALEPH. Video courtesy of björk : talk.
Aside from echoing through the Pompidou’s steel halls, the piece is also shared via social media with the addition of a 3D animation made by 3D graphics artist Sam Balfua. Balfua is mainly known for sculpting mythical beings of light that walk through the planet’s habitats. In Nature Manifesto, one of such creatures is found dancing through the woods at night as Björk recites their manifesto.
Nature Manifesto pt.2 by Björk and ALEPH. Video courtesy of björk : talk.
Björk and ALEPH’s Nature Manifesto is a moving fusion of art, technology, and environmental advocacy, using sound and visuals to confront the urgency of the sixth mass extinction. Combining Björk’s haunting vocals with the recreated calls of extinct animals, the piece is a powerful call to action, urging global leaders and audiences to address the climate crisis during events like COP29. Through this innovative installation, Björk and ALEPH are making a compelling case for immediate, unified action to protect the planet’s fragile ecosystems.
Find out more about Nature Manifesto and other pieces by Björk and ALEPH on Björk’s website www.bjork.com or Instagram @bjork, or ALEPH’s Instagram @ubi.sunt.