The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) celebrated the donation of Listen to the World, Volute 2 by Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer on May 8, 2025. The artwork was gifted by the Fundación Jumex Arte Contemporáneo to commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and Mexico.
Listen to the World, Volute 2 is a three-dimensional model of a laser-tomography scan. It represents the air exhaled when saying "listen to the world." This is the first cast sculpture by Lozano-Hemmer, known for his interactive media installations.
The artwork acknowledges Canada and takes its title from a composition by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer. Schafer's concepts of acoustic ecology and soundscapes greatly influenced the artist. The public was invited to a lecture by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer about his artistic practice, with a special focus on his work Listen to the World, Volute 2, in the NGC's Auditorium.
Jean-François Bélisle, Director & CEO of the National Gallery of Canada, expressed gratitude for the gift from Mexico. Carlos Manuel Joaquín González, Ambassador of Mexico to Canada, stated the donation is a testament to the friendship between both nations. Lozano-Hemmer said his work strives to make tangible the invisible, inviting reflection on the ever-changing atmosphere.