From a distance it resembles a tornado of metal pipes, and as you approach the eerie random sounds make you believe that you’ve stumbled upon the wreckage of an alien spacecraft. Fret not earthlings, for this sound sculpture located in Lancashire, England, is the creation of architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu. Known as the Singing Ringing Tree, it stands tall on Crown Point, which is land that was previously occupied by radio towers. The architect’s intent was to construct a pseudo-functional piece of art that would recognize the lands history.
Completed in 2006, it is part of the series of four sculptures within the Panopticons arts and regeneration project. The project “was set up to erect a series of 21st-century landmarks, or Panopticons (structures providing a comprehensive view), as symbols of the renaissance of the area. The tree is constructed of stacked pipes of varying lengths. As the wind passes different length pipes in different layers, the tree sings random chords. Each time you sit under the shelter of the tree you will hear a new original song that is driven by mother nature. Although sometimes criticized for it’s inability to carry a tune, the Singing Ringing Tree is the ultimate lawn ornament. Check it out on YouTube.
