A site-specific sound and light installation to promote dialogue and inspire hope to restore and preserve Great Salt Lake
Every night from Thursday, March 26, through Saturday, April 4, residents and visitors to Salt Lake City are invited to experience A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake—a striking new artwork by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson. Presented each evening at Memory Grove, the artwork comprises a musical composition and a colourful light projection that unfurls after dark upon the surface of a large, elevated sphere. The music for A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake (2026) uses field recordings of local animals and natural phenomena, drawn from existing archives as well as new recordings made for the project. Broadcast within the city, these seldom heard sounds make explicit the relationships that connect Salt Lake City to the lake and its surrounding environment.
A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake is part of Wake the Great Salt Lake, a temporary public art project supported by the Salt Lake City Arts Council, the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office, and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge. Wake the Great Salt Lake aims to raise awareness about the decline of the Great Salt Lake by showcasing several temporary public artworks created by a diverse group of local, regional, and internationally recognized artists. These works are designed to engage and educate the public on the challenges facing the lake, inspiring both residents and visitors to take action. For more information about Wake the Great Salt Lake and the other artists involved, visit wakegsl.org or follow the project on Instagram @wakegsl.
