TREE TONGUE

“Therolinguistics (n.): the term ‘therolinguistics’ was coined from the Greek thèr (θἠρ), ‘wild beast’. It refers to the branch of linguistics committed to the study and translation of written works by animals (and later plants), whether in the literary form of the novel, poetry, epic, pamphlet or archive… “ V. DESPRET

Tree Tongue is a participatory, experiential futures installation presenting artefacts from a future defined by widespread recognition of plant consciousness, communication and citizenship.

Developed by Audax M Gawler and Pri Bertucci, in collaboration with Ayá kukamíria, Tree Tongue presents one of the first written records of vegetal linguistics, as translated by Therolinguists working alongside Indigenous stewards in the Amazon Biome of Brazil in 2053.

Within this time horizon, the first message successfully observed to be growing within the Jagube vine, and, subsequently translated, became widely known as the Jagube Declaration. As confirmation of plant intelligence, culture and language, this declaration swiftly and radically altered human relations with the diverse plant communities of Earth, leading to the immediate publication of the Jagube Protection Act, which recognises and protects the Planetary citizenship and rights of the Jagube community and all plant beings.  

Here in 2026, audiences are invited to read the Jague declaration in Tree Tongue, and explore the vascular logics and grammar of plant language through lexicons, translation tools and the Jagube Protection Act, before attempting to speak beyond the boundaries of the human by drafting new words and phrases by using the Tree Tongue glyphs.

The installation features field recordings of the Amazon Biome and the voice of Kukame Paje (shaman), Ayá Kukamíria, reflecting on a future in which all humans recognise the importance of speaking with and learning from plant worlds.

As machine-mediated translation tools for interspecies communication gain capacity, Tree Tongue asks what can only be heard through tactile attunement, and intuitive, imaginative and multisensorial efforts to reach towards others across species divides.

You can read the full future history of Tree Tongue, translation guides and the Jagube Protection Act here.

And can see the full exhibition catalogue here.

Commissioned by Oscar Selaguro of Interspecies Library and Descano Gardens, Los Angeles, for the Journal of Therolinguistics Exhibition 2026

Worlding, Design, Fabrication, Sound Design: Audax M. Gawler & Pri Bertucci

Featuring interviews and reflections by: Ayá Kukamíria

Additional graphic Design: Gio Cavhello

Protection Act: Audax. M Gawler & Michael Gawler