An acoustic art project for the World Peace Day.
Loss has a sound
SOUNDS OF LOSS is an audio intervention by Philip Gröning for the UN International Day of Peace on September 21, 2026.
The work consists of approximately 1,500 individually recorded sounds. Each sound represents one of the people killed by war on the International Day of Peace. Minimalist, clicking, knocking, tapping sounds. Similar to one another, yet each one unique. Just like the people killed every day in wars around the world. Over a period of 49 hours, SOUNDS OF LOSS will be played in a wide variety of institutions and public spaces worldwide.
The cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York will present the work on the International Day of Peace. The inaugural address by the incoming president of the UN General Assembly at St. John the Divine may well take place against the backdrop of the audio intervention.
Every sound a life. There is no pause button.
An audio intervention by Philip Gröning for World Peace Day.
Nonpartisanship approach
The project acoustically registers all humans killed in wars worldwide. It will not differentiate between the parties involved, nor differentiate between killings of civilian or military personnel. The killing of humans stands at the very centre of war. No human deserves to be killed. This basic understanding is represented here.
Applicability
SOUNDS OF LOSS is an audio intervention. No change of program is required. The work blends into existing situations — in exhibitions, lectures, religious events, and concerts. All that is required is a computer and a sound system.
World Atlas
Where War Rages
Each red dot marks a region where people are dying from direct military violence — the starting point for what Sounds of Loss makes audible.
Hover over a dot to see the conflict.
Global Peace Day
A global day lasts 49 hours, beginning in Kiribati 13 hours before GMT and ending on Baker Island 12 hours after GMT. Research institutes estimate that at least 550 to 700 people were killed daily by wars in 2026. Approximately 1,500 individually recorded sounds are played over the course of 49 hours. Minimalist, clicking, tapping sounds.
Implementation
War is a dynamic happening. The sounds therefore will not be heard regularly. The sequence deliberately does not follow a regular rhythm — the unpredictability of the sounds reflects the immense unpredictability of war and violence. Sounds appear, form small clusters, and then fade away for a while. Only to return explosively.
An acoustic representation of the reality of global wars.
Time and place
The 49-hour period of Global World Peace Day begins in Kiribati on 21 September 2026 at 00:00 local time and — for Kiribati — ends September 23, 2026 at 00:59 AM local time. SOUNDS OF LOSS covers the entire period. The installation will be available at different times in differing time zones. In Seoul, for instance, it will begin September 21, 2026 at 19:00 KST, ending September 22 at 19:59. In Europe, it is beginning September 20 at 12:00 CET, ending September 22 at 12:59 CET. In Morocco, starting at 10:00 AM September 20 through 10:59 AM September 22. In New York, the installation will be starting 6:00 AM on September 20 and last until 6:59 AM on September 22 EDT.
The Concept
From statistics to experience
War casualties are usually just numbers in the news.
Sounds of Loss translates the repressed into acoustic presence, making the temporal and physical impact of the events of war perceptible – on one global day in September.
Global simultaneity
The piece is performed simultaneously worldwide, across all time zones. Everyone hears the same sound. A global day lasts 49 hours. The project spans the entire duration of one day on Earth.
Removing the abstraction
Each sound represents a specific human life that has been cut short at this very moment by direct military violence. The work is based on scientifically collected data.
Feeling the irreversibility
There is no pause button. The user can only withdraw by muting the sound — the killing caused by war continues.
Conceptual images
How war-related deaths are distributed over a single day
The following graphics illustrate, by way of example, how many people are statistically killed at war on a single day in 2026 — and in which conflicts around the globe. June 1st, 2026 is shown as an example day.
Distribution of casualties on June 1st 2026
Exemplary distribution of estimated war casualties over the hours of 1 June 2026.
War casualties on 1 June 2026 by conflict region
Illustrative breakdown of estimated war casualties on 1 June 2026 by the largest conflict regions and types of conflict.
Concept images, exemplary and non-predictive. They show 1 June 2026 as an example day. The graphics are intended to illustrate the extent of the violence of war and are based on public estimates.
Who can take part?
All organisations and places where people come together.
An audio intervention by Philip Gröning for World Peace Day.
Impact
For multipliers
On the day of the campaign, organisations integrate the audio intervention into their daily routines — in lectures, classrooms, lobbies, railway stations or at events. All that is required is a device with a speaker or sound system.
Schools & Universities
The audio intervention runs alongside lessons or lectures — as an acoustical element lifting the invisible reality of war into everyday learning.
Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions
The audio intervention can be incorporated into your current exhibitions or in foyers. It adds a new dimension to the ongoing show and creates new points of reference for the duration of the event.
Authorities, administrative bodies & public spaces
From underground stations to town halls and event venues: any public organisation can integrate the project into its day-to-day operations, creating empathy for what is mostly subdued. A computer, laptop or mobile phone and a sound system — that's all it requires. Information, posters and background material will be made available.
Religious Institutions & Places of Worship
Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship and assembly for all faith groups. The audio intervention can be played during devotions, prayer times or as a non-verbal accompaniment throughout the day.
What is the aim?
The audio intervention aims at interrupting the silent acceptance of wars around the world, for a moment. Wars are not a given. War is the result of decisions, politics and human action. Just as war can be started, it can also be stopped, slowed down and ultimately brought to an end.
These small and unforeseeable acoustical intrusions may seem to disturb a lecture, a film, or the ongoing debate of a parliament.
But being killed by war far more disrupts the plans and routines of those who just are no more.
Who initiated SOUNDS OF LOSS?
Why is there a cost contribution from the participating institutions?
What happens to income that exceeds direct costs?
What is provided?
The central element provided is the 49-hour audio intervention SOUNDS OF LOSS, which uses approximately 1,500 minimalistic sounds to raise awareness for the global loss of life in wars.
Posters, information materials, leaflets, postcards, etc. will be provided as print-ready files.
All graphic material will be available on the website as raw data for participants to customise themselves.
Technical support and guidance are available on the website.
Setup
Five steps to participate
No pre-download, no complicated installation. Everything runs in the browser — on desktop, laptop or phone. 11 days before World Peace Day, various test files will be made available so that participating institutions can choose the quality best suited for them and check their sound system.
Register
Enter your organisation and contact person in the form.
Verify
Confirm your email address and log in.
Participation fee
The project is funded by the participation fees of the participating organisations. Afterwards the app will be unlocked. (Alternatively: redeem a coupon.)
Test
From 10 September, various test files will be made available. Press play and check which test file is best suited for the playback location. Step-by-step instructions included.
Listen
On the day of the audio intervention, press Play. The 49-hour, synchronous playback starts simultaneously worldwide.
Participate
Register your organization
Registration is free of charge. Once registered, your organisation will need a valid licence. You will then be granted access to the setup so that you can test it in advance using the test media assets. Access to the live system for the audio intervention will be automatically activated for the 49 hours of World Peace Day. World Peace Day begins in Kiribati at 00:00 local time, in Central Europe on 20 September 2026 at 12:00 CET, in New York on 20 September at 06:00 EDT, and so on.
Registration
Marketing
Posters ready to use
Pre-designed posters for Sounds of Loss — suitable for display in churches, schools, museums, and public spaces. Free, customizable for your location, available immediately.
Ready to use right away
Pre-designed templates for different contexts. Simply select and download.
Edit online
Enter titles and text in the desired language. Add the location, institution, time, etc., directly in your browser. No software required.
Formats
Download as JPEG for digital use or as PDF for high-resolution print — in several formats, e.g. A4 or A3.
An audio intervention by Philip Gröning for World Peace Day.