Olafur Eliasson’s “Earth Speakr” Gives Children a Digital Voice for the Planet

Olafur Eliasson Earth Speakr

Artist Olafur Eliasson has developed an augmented reality app that empowers children to participate in the global climate conversation. Titled Earth Speakr, the app enables young users to digitally project animated faces and voices onto their surroundings — from trees and bottles to buildings and streets — transforming the world into an expressive canvas.

The app forms part of a larger collective artwork, accompanied by a dedicated website that amplifies the voices of those who are too young to vote but will bear the consequences of today’s environmental choices.

“It’s about giving the planet a voice through those who are going to inherit it,”Eliasson explains. “Earth Speakr invites kids to speak up for the planet — and adults to listen.”

Giving the Planet a Face

Using Olafur Eliasson Earth Speakr, children can design a 3D CGI face that mimics their expressions in real time. After recording a message, they can superimpose it onto any object or landscape, creating the illusion that the environment itself is speaking. The result is a playful yet powerful digital dialogue between humans and nature, urging reflection on responsibility, care, and imagination in times of ecological change.

Written by Otávio Santiago, a designer passionate about creating meaningful visual experiences through graphic, motion, and 3D design. Based between Berlin and Lisbon, he works across disciplines — from print and branding to digital and animation.