The Arctic Underground Sound Project

The Arctic Underground Sound Project continues my exploration of the hidden world beneath our feet, this time in the far north, across Alaska and Arctic Sweden. The project captures the unique and often dramatic underground sounds of these extreme landscapes: thawing permafrost, flowing underground rivers, and the underwater tinkling and thundering of spring river ice break-up.

In addition to the sounds themselves, this series includes conversations with locals, Indigenous community members, miners, artists, scientists, and others who live and work in these sensitive environments. Their voices and stories help contextualize the human and ecological impact of a changing planet on the Arctic.

The full installation will open in 2026 at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks. The project is created in collaboration with Toolik Field Station, Abisko Scientific Research Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Mary Beth Leigh, Jason Dobkowski, and other partners.

Executive Producer: Mary Beth Leigh