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.
monumental handmade installation composed of 72 panels | all images courtesy of Alina Akhmetbek
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.
72 panels symbolically represent 72 ‘voices’ of the planet
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.
the monumental artwork is being laid out in Abu Dhabi Plaza
the large-scale work by Alina Akhmetbek spans over 41,000 sqm
the surface is built from thousands of individually shaped paper quills
the contemporary installation is developed from traditional quilling techniques
the six-year handcrafted process combined scale and precision
during the preparation for the Guinness World Records attempt
each one of the panels reflects environmental and cultural narratives
the repetition of hand-rolled elements creates visual density
the monumental mosaic piece explores humanity’s relationship with planet Earth
the installation combines craftsmanship, mathematics, and natural order
project info:
name: 72 Voices Of Earth
designer: Alina Akhmetbek | @alinn.ahmetbek
location: Abu Dhabi Plaza
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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