A Monument for the Successes of Democracy and a Memorial for Its Failures is a multi-channel sound installation that explores democracy as form, content, and medium. The project weaves together recordings of voices reciting poems, speeches, letters, or other texts written by survivors of hatred, racism, or oppression. Additional tracks include voices reading the words of people who have fought for social justice or resisted oppression.

Volunteers choose what they want to read. In this capacity, the project allows members of various communities to research the words penned by survivors and activists and add their voice to the fabric of the project. As of January 2021 the archive has 90 recordings in 14 languages and it continues to grow.

The installation involves 4 - 12 speakers dispersed on a site or through an institution. Voices are played randomly. At some moments there is silence, at others, multiple voices can be heard.

If you would like more information about adding your voice or hosting A Monument for the Successes of Democracy and a Memorial for Its Failures then please send a message through the contact portal of this website.

An audio sample of recorded voices is below. It includes five voices in three languages (Arabic, English, and French).