a cup of coffee next to an open book

Mother Tongue – AI Poetics Meets Language Preservation

Client

UNESCO

Website Link

Category

Cultural Innovation / Digital Humanities

Year

2025

About

This project explored how artificial intelligence can be used as a tool for cultural preservation rather than abstraction alone. Drawing from endangered languages, oral traditions, and regional folklore, the work translated linguistic structure and symbolism into visual and auditory form, allowing audiences to engage with language beyond direct comprehension.

Using custom-trained language and image-generation models, the project combined AI-generated visuals with original audio fragments to create a visual-poetic series titled Mother Tongue. The work was presented in both academic and public settings, where it has since been used as an educational resource and a reference point for future initiatives focused on language, technology, and cultural memory.

Testimonial

The project demonstrated an unusually thoughtful application of AI in a cultural context. It balanced technical experimentation with genuine respect for language and heritage, resulting in work that was both visually compelling and educationally valuable.

Dr. Elena Fischer, Program Director, Cultural Innovation Initiative

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