Louvre Abu Dhabi unveils Singing Trees
Image courtesy of The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
The Singing Trees, an interactive, digital installation created by a London-based artistic collective named Umbrellium, in collaboration with Paris’ Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM) and independent producer, Katherine Jewkes is making its premiere at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Highlighting the pressing need for environmental awareness in the age of climate change, Singing Trees combines innovative technology and music as well as an opportunity to engage with nature. Activating the outdoor landscape of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Umbrellium will give a voice to the palm trees around the museum’s entrance using electronic belts attached to each tree. These belts–designed with the support of sound engineers from the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music(IRCAM)–will enable the trees to sing together as a choir that will change in response to the audiences’ interaction with the work.
As visitors move closer to the trees, the choir becomes louder and more in-synch. Visitors are then invited to hug the tree to maximise the volume of the choir. The trees will sing a combination of songs in English, Arabic and French including Ayyala, a traditional Arabic song that reflects the artistic heritage of the UAE; “Greensleeves”, a traditional English folk song from the late 16th century and the French Medieval choir song “L’Amour de Moy.”
Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi said: “Singing Trees speaks to Louvre Abu Dhabi’s mission to provide an educational and innovative space where visitors can engage in dialogues around the issues that affect us all. Timed to coincide with UAE Innovation Month, the piece explores how technological advances can bring us closer to nature and heighten our understanding of the environment.”
After its debut in Abu Dhabi it will travel to other cities around the world including Paris, London, New York and Paris again for the Olympics in 2024.