thousands of hand-rolled paper quills compose monumental mosaic earth artwork

72 Voices of Earth is made out of 72 panels covered in paper quills

72 Voices of Earth by artist Alina Akhmetbek is a monumental handmade artwork spanning 41.656 sqm and composed of 72 handcrafted panels covered with thousands of individually shaped paper quills. Developed over six years and currently awaiting Guinness World Records recognition, the project transforms the traditional technique of quilling into a large-scale contemporary installation exploring humanity’s relationship with the planet.

The artwork Concept references Earth’s axial precession cycle

The work by Kazakhstan-based artist Alina Akhmetbek is built around two central concepts: the number 72 and the logarithmic spiral. The project’s title references the astronomical phenomenon of Earth’s axial precession, in which the celestial sphere shifts approximately one degree every 72 years. Through this idea, each panel symbolically represents one ‘voice’ of the planet, reflecting environmental, social, cultural, and human realities connected to life on Earth.

The second concept is based on the logarithmic spiral, a mathematical form frequently found throughout nature in galaxies, hurricanes, shells, plants, and biological systems. Thousands of paper quills are individually shaped and assembled into layered spiral structures, turning repetition and handmade precision into a visual metaphor for natural order, planetary movement, and interconnected existence.

Constructed entirely by hand, the 72 Voices Of Earth project combines traditional craftsmanship with monumental scale, transforming delicate paper material into an immersive visual landscape defined by texture, density, and intricate detail.

project info:

name: 72 Voices Of Earth
designer: Alina Akhmetbek | @alinn.ahmetbek

location: Abu Dhabi Plaza