From May 10 to November 23, 2025, the Biennale Architettura in Venice, Italy, hosts a pioneering exhibition titled “Talking to Elephants.” This innovative installation is a collaboration between ASCENDO Immersive Audio GmbH, a leader in infrasonic subwoofer technology, Marc Sherratt of MSSA (Sustainability Architects), and Franco Schoeman of B1DR Laboratory. The exhibit explores how infrasonic sound can be harnessed to help restore the natural migratory pathways of elephants in South Africa, offering a novel approach to conservation and human-wildlife coexistence.
The Plight of South African Elephants
South Africaโs African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana) faces overpopulation within its protected, fenced areas. This situation has led to unnatural population controls such as culling and contraception, which threaten the species’ long-term survival. Surrounding these large reserves are smaller private and communal lands, which could potentially serve as corridors for elephant migration if managed correctly.
The proposed solution is a 1,000-kilometer wildlife migration corridor that reconnects existing conservation areas, allowing elephants to traverse safely between them. Such corridors are crucial for ecological health, genetic diversity, and reducing human-elephant conflicts.
Talking to Elephants using Infrasonic Communication
The centerpiece of the exhibition, “Talking to Elephants,” demonstrates how infrasonic sound below the range of human hearing can be used to communicate with elephants and guide their movement across the landscape. This technology employs AI-driven, elephant-only gates and waterpoints equipped with infrasonic broadcast towers in the Limpopo Province. These installations enable elephants to recognize and respond to infrasonic cues, effectively teaching them to use the new migration routes without direct human interference.
This approach not only supports the ecological necessity of seasonal migrations but also promotes sustainable coexistence by leveraging elephants as agents of ecological health. Additionally, the project aims to empower local communities by demonstrating how elephants can contribute to increasing food security through seed dispersal and the establishment of self-sustaining food forests along the migration corridor.
Merging Sound, Science, and Architecture
The exhibition features sophisticated infrasonic sound equipment, including three ASCENDO 24-inch sealed infrasonic subwoofersand an active coaxial 12-inch speaker for higher frequencies. Each device is paired with high-quality DSPs and amplifiers to ensure precise sound delivery.
A striking flared horn model, designed by Marc Sherratt, suspended above the space, visually represents the broad distribution of infrasonic frequencies across the African landscape. This model illustrates how sound vibrations travel through soil and environment, influencing elephant behavior.
Beneath the model, a cymatic plate a device that visualizes sound vibrations demonstrates how infrasonic communication affects elephant environments. Visitors can experience a 14-minute soundscape that replicates the auditory environment of a herd, including rumbling sounds and ambient noises of the Limpopo Province, providing an immersive sense of what it might feel like to communicate with elephants through sound.
Significance and Future Implications
“Talking to Elephants” exemplifies how innovative acoustic technology can aid in wildlife conservation by restoring ancient migratory behaviors disrupted by human activity. It highlights a future where architecture, sound design, and ecological science intersect to foster sustainable coexistence.
This exhibit not only offers a glimpse into cutting-edge conservation strategies but also encourages viewers to rethink the role of technology in ecological stewardship. By harnessing infrasonic communication, we can create safer, more connected landscapes for elephants and other migratory species.
