The Sound Ring by Maya Lin

Head to the front desk where you'll easily spot this acoustic artwork.

Made of sustainably-harvested American walnut, Maya Lin’s Sound Ring is a marvel for both your eyes and your ears. As a part of her What is Missing? memorial to extinct, endangered, and threatened species, the sculpture’s eight hidden speakers play sounds from habitat soundscapes and some of the species that live there. Habitats include the North American forest, the Indian Ocean, and an Amazon rainforest. Individual species include everything from frogs to gibbons, Humpback whales to jaguars—and of course, birds. Lin designed this piece as a gift to the Lab for its conservation efforts around the world. Her work serves as a reminder that we must continually work toward the preservation of species.

Maya Lin is known for her pieces that deal with loss and history, including her most famous work, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Lin received a Masters of Architecture from Yale University. She sources her inspiration from diverse landscapes and architectural styles, using her art to address the relationships people have to their environment.