Subterranean Voice; Abisko Nationalpark, Sweden
A project by Nikki Lindt
Subterranean Voice; Abisko is an installation and fieldwork-based project that reveals the hidden acoustic life of Arctic landscapes, from thawing permafrost to tree interiors, at a moment of rapid environmental change. The subsurface recordings were made inside Arctic soil, moss, thawing permafrost, a lake, tree and in the soil above and underground river.
Paintings interpreting the rhythms of these sounds, alongside stories from locals reveal an Arctic world alive beneath the surface – shaped by sound, memory and change.
This project is accessible at Abisko Naturum and remotely via this website.
Best experienced with headphones or external speakers.
Explore six Arctic locations—each revealing a hidden acoustic environment beneath the surface
Waterfall
Watercolor with natural pigments and minimal archival acrylic on paper.
Listen to the sound inside the rocks of this cliff, the underground river and waterfall can be clearly heard inside!
Recorded with geophone inside the rock of the cliff.
This location was chosen by Friederike, a plant ecologist. She speaks about exploration and ice climbing in this area, and about her personal connection to the site, shaped by time spent with loved ones watching the waterfall cascade from the mountainside.
Reflections
The Earth has experienced many natural events throughout its history that have disrupted ecosystems and led to mass extinctions. Each time, life has adapted and found a new balance. Today, however, some changes to our climate and environment may be irreversible and are beginning to impact human life directly. That’s why it’s important to take steps to slow climate change and protect biodiversity — not only for the planet but for the well-being of current and future generations.
It’s also normal to feel concerned or saddened by what’s happening to nature, a response known as ecological grief. Sharing these feelings and talking with others can help. Even small actions, taken together, can make a meaningful difference. While the challenges are real, finding ways to engage, through community, creativity, or care for the places we live can offer a sense of connection and direction. And in that, there’s the quiet but real possibility of renewal, for ourselves and the world around us.
Lake
Watercolor with natural pigments and minimal archival acrylic on paper.
Listen to the sounds inside the sands at the shoreline of Lake Tornetrask during high winds!
Recorded with geophone inside the sands under the shoreline of Lake Torneträsk.
This location was chosen by Margo, who was enjoying living in this arctic area year-round in a tent. She reflects on the landscape, its metaphors, and how love for a specific person came to stand in for her connection to the place.
Reflections
The relationship between people and nature takes many forms. Some find a sense of freedom in remote landscapes; others connect through everyday moments like walking through a forest, gathering with friends by a lake, or even growing food. Nature can be a source of resources, a part of daily life, or something more internal, even emotional. That relationship isn’t fixed, it shifts depending on how it’s experienced and understood. It’s worth asking: what kind of connection feels meaningful to you?
Kiruna Mine
A local miner (remaining anonymous) reveals what it is really like to work inside the mine, the subsurface sounds he hears, and the dynamics underground; at times tense, at times marked by a deep sense of camaraderie and human connection.
Reflections
Industries often shape the world in ways that raise concerns about their impact, yet they are also integral to modern life. They are easily perceived as destructive, however, they are part of the foundation on which our lives are constructed. At the moment, there’s no clear agreement on how industries, nature, and other ways of relating to the land should coexist, or how much can be compromised on any side. The tension between them continues to raise questions about values, priorities, and the future that might unfold. In this complexity, there’s space for new understandings and fresh perspectives- by engaging in the collective conversations about the kind of future we want and what might be required to achieve it.
Moss
Watercolor with natural pigments and minimal archival acrylic on paper.
Listen to the sound inside of soil beneath moss during a gentle rainfall. Recorded with geophone inside the moss and soil.
Emil, a bryologist studying moss, speaks about these resilient organisms and what it feels like to work closely with them in this landscape.
Reflections
Did you know that plants and microorganisms can remain active even during the Arctic winter? The thick snow cover insulates the soil and the plants beneath, protecting them from extreme cold temperatures. This allows plants to take up nutrients from the soil throughout the year. In the Arctic, where the summer is very short, being able to absorb nutrients in winter is crucial. However, if climate change reduces the snow cover in winter, plants and other organisms may lose an important source of nutrients.
Permafrost Bog
Watercolor with natural pigments and minimal archival acrylic on paper.
Listen to the sound recorded inside thawing permafrost as methane bubbles rise. Recorded with hydrophone inside the bog.
This location was chosen by Liam, a soil scientist, studying thawing permafrost and how organic materials within it move through the landscape after thaw. He reflects on the experience and joys of working in the field.
Reflections
How do you perceive nature – through sound, color, touch, taste, and/or smell? One person might focus on the wind moving through trees, another on the feel of thawing soil or the scent of flowers. These experiences are personal, but sharing them can offer new perspectives and strengthen our connection to the world around us. Paying close attention to nature often leads to greater appreciation and empathy and with that, a better understanding of its vulnerability and importance.
Trees
Watercolor with natural pigments and minimal archival acrylic on paper.
Listen to the sound directly inside birch trees in the wind. Recorded with contact mics inside the bark of the trees.
This location was chosen by Jolanta, a botanist studying how trees communicate through chemical signals. She speaks about her connection to the arctic and the experience of working closely with these living systems in the field.
Reflections
Trees and plants release chemicals into the air that serve as signals, which can be detected by other organisms. These chemicals can attract pollinators, repel herbivores, or warn nearby plants of insect attacks. The production of these chemicals is influenced by factors like temperature, carbon dioxide, and ozone levels, all of which are affected by climate change. As a result, a disruption of this communication system can occur, altering the interactions between trees, plants and other organisms.
Land
Reflections
We are part of nature, and what happens to the land happens to us. The growth of our societies has brought both progress and loss, leaving deep traces of grief in the natural world. Changes in weather, shifting seasons, and natural disasters can be seen as signs of this strain. In these patterns, the land tells its story.
Helene, from the Sámi community of northern Sweden, shares her understanding of sound, deep listening, and her relationship to the landscape.
Thank you for visiting Subterranean Voice; Abisko Sweden!
You are invited! We are accepting drawings based on the sounds heard in these recordings. Please send a picture of your drawing to undergroundsoundwalk@gmail.com. These drawings will become part of an evolving archive that may be exhibited in future iterations of the project.
Subterranean Voice; Abisko continues to evolve through exhibitions, collaborations, and field recordings in other locations.
Inquiries: nikkilindt@gmail.com
Subterranean Voice; Abisko invites deep listening to the hidden acoustic life of landscapes in transition; where sound, memory, and environmental change meet beneath the surface. It is part of a broader international project by artist Nikki Lindt exploring subsurface sound. Other projects in this public art series, such as The Underground Sound Project in New York City’s Prospect Park, also invite visitors to slow down and listen deeply. By merging art, science, and collaboration, the projects in this series create immersive experiences that invite people to listen- not just to the earth, but to each other and the urgent environmental challenges we face.
Subterranean Voice; Abisko was created during regular site visits to the Abisko Scientific Research Station in Sweden from 2021- 2025.
In Partnership With
Credits
A project by Nikki Lindt
Funding has been made possible by the Abisko Scientific Research Station, they are thanked for their support of this project.
Logistical support: Friederike Gerhmann, Naturum Abisko and Abisko Scientific Research Station
Sound editing: Avishag Cohen Rodrigues and Elise Silvestri
Graphic design of signage: Alicia Wirt-Fox
Website design: Karen Tsugawa
Texts (in additional information sections): Friederike Gehrmann
Interviewees: Friederike Gehrmann, Margo Paw, Emil Andersen, Liam Hefferman, Jolanta Rieksta, and a local miner (anonymous)
Thank you to: Naturum Abisko, Sofia Åström, CIII (Friederike Gehrmann, Yongmei Gong, Mari Keski-Korsu, Nikki Lindt, Sam Saville, Joost Van Duppen), Abisko Scientific Research Station, Johan Sandström, Abisko Nationalpark, Lansstyrelsen Norrbotten, Karen Bennie (United Nations COP Resilience Hub), and Cristina Bernal Aparicio (United Nations FCCC Adaptation Division), and Mark Helder