Library of Botanical Voices

A sound library based on people’s descriptions of how a plant of their choice sounds.

The project begins with a collection phase: people from the local area are invited to a workshop where they describe their plants. From every description the artists compose a sound work for that plant. After the workshop the participants send a picture of their plant, which is presented on site as an installation and online, together with the venue. The installation can be combined with an opening performance.

Library of Botanical Voices grew out of Benno Steinegger’s long-term project to those who will survive…, for which he invited the Norwegian composer Eirik Havnes to work with him on the relation between plants and sound. Their collaboration became a lecture performance and installation presented at the performing arts festival Høstscena 2024 in Ålesund.

The installation was shown at Momentum13 in Moss, Norway, in summer 2025. In November 2025 the lecture performance was presented by Fabbrica Europa and Il Lavoratorio at Autunno Fiorentino, Florence.