Lungs of the Earth is a spatialised sound installation inspired by field recordings from the Amazon rainforest, recorded by sound artist Felix Blume and mixed by composer Bernardo Alvarado Rojas. Four elemental poems by Brazilian writers—”Water” by Patrizia Longhitano, “Fire” by Virna Teixeira, “Air” by Alyssa Martens, and “Earth” by Monika Radojevic—take audiences on a narrative journey, highlighting the call and response between animal and human voices.
The installation serves as a monument to the songs being lost to deforestation and climate change, and encourages audiences to develop a personal relationship with the story of ‘the last forest’ through a multi-sensory and interactive exhibition environment.
The soundscape is 17 minutes long and runs on loop. It takes approximately 20-25 minutes to explore the exhibition in full.
Installation at Lobe Studio (November 14-16) was made possible through the support of LDDI and funding from Edith Lando VLC.
Listen to the soundscape by visiting the links below:
ASL Interpretation of the Soundscape
Lungs of the Earth_ English Transcript
Digital Access to the Lungs of the Earth project will be available until December 31, 2024. If you’re interested in sharing the soundscape with your classroom or community you can purchase a copy through this link.
Photos from the most recent installation:
Artist and Contributors
Concept and curation by Alyssa Martens
Field recordings by Felix Blume
Sound design and spatial mix by Bernardo Alvarado Rojas
Sound mixing by Thomas Quirion and Hanqing Eyden Zhao
Water (poem), written and performed by Patrizia Longhitano
Fire (poem), written and performed by Virna Teixeira
Air (poem), written and performed by Alyssa Martens
Earth (poem), written and performed by Monika Radojevic
Poetry recordings by Ieva Vaiti
Tactile illustrations and exhibition design by Kay Slater
Planning & Technical Support by Jamilee Baroud
Facilities Support by Jean Galvani
Logistics and Marketing Support by Peyvand Fralick
See more from Curator and Artist Alyssa Martens:
About the Creators
Alyssa Martens (@alyssammartens) is a Brazilian-Canadian curator, writer, and facilitator with a focus on ecological justice. She leads Studio Poetica, an impact-driven art and education studio dedicated to creating multi-sensory, interactive, and biomimetic learning environments at the intersections of art, ecology, migration, and health. In 2025, she will be touring Lungs of the Earth to Brazil in the lead-up to COP30, and leading the creation of two new immersive installations, Terra Poetica and A Blue Moment.
Bernardo Alvarado Rojas (@vibrosounds) is a highly acclaimed composer and sound designer, celebrated for creating immersive audio environments that blend natural and electronic elements. Known for his ability to craft compelling narratives through sound, Bernardo has contributed to various artistic projects, from film scores to interactive installations. His work consistently bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary sonic experiences.
Felix Blume (@felixblume) is an internationally recognized sound artist and field recordist whose work explores the relationship between sound, space, and human experience. His recordings often delve into the acoustic environments of nature and culture, creating works that have been exhibited globally in galleries and festivals. His recent projects focus on the preservation of natural soundscapes and the cultural significance of sound in endangered environments.
Monika Radojevic (@monikaradojevic) is an award-winning poet, writer, and advocate whose work explores themes of identity, race, and gender. Born in London to a Brazilian mother and Montenegrin father, her multicultural heritage deeply informs her writing. She gained recognition as the inaugural winner of the Merky Books New Writers’ Prize in 2019, leading to the publication of her acclaimed debut poetry collection, Teeth in the Back of My Neck.
Patrizia Longhitano (@goldwildpoppy) is a Brazilian-born poet whose work often explores themes of identity, migration, and belonging, reflecting her own experiences of moving between cultures. Longhitano’s poetry has been featured in several prestigious publications, including Un Nuevo Sol, The Rialto, South Bank Poetry Magazine, and The Delinquent. She is an active member of the Latinx writing community in the UK, contributing to initiatives like the Invisible Presence collective.
Virna Teixeira (@virnagontei) is a Brazilian poet, writer, translator, and visual artist, currently based in London. She has published several poetry collections and pamphlets across Brazil, Portugal, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and the UK. Her latest book, My Doll and I, reflects on themes of gender and femininity, blending poetic and performative elements.
Kay Slater (@kdotca) is a multidisciplinary artist and accessibility consultant deeply involved in fostering inclusivity in the arts. They collaborate with artists and organizations to integrate accessibility from the ground up, using sustainable, community-based strategies. Their work emphasizes anti-oppression and open-source practices, aiming to democratize access to artistic knowledge and skills.
For more information, please contact Alyssa Martens at alyssamhw@gmail.com.
This installation was made possible by the support of Edith Lando VLC, LDDI, and the Canadian Council for the Arts.
