Through the processing, re-imagination, and re-interpretation of a felled tree, can value be added to it, raising its status in society as its own being?

The natural world is full of elemental media that is inscribed in ways we cannot comprehend. An infinite transition of information (energy) waiting to be accessed and translated to a state of understanding. This project addresses this unknown mystery of the natural world, frequently overlooked and disregarded, to create a position where a tree has added value that involves the re-evaluation and re-distribution of the tree as media.

The tree is a fundamental part of life. With the climate crisis, it is one of the most effective carbon capture tools available. It is a material harmonious to our societal needs. The growth rings of a tree mediate its existence, telling stories of the events witnessed over its years. It is possible to re-interpret a tree as media, to give voice to its presence, and to distribute its knowledge.

In this project, I transform the timber of a felled Robina Pseudoacacia (Black Locust), which otherwise would have been burnt for fuel. Using solely the material of the felled tree, I have produced a series of self-referential charcoal prints showcasing the tree’s growth rings. With this, I challenge what is traditionally considered valuable - wood as fuel. Instead, I produce an artistic print where the new value is in celebrating the material itself.

The project results in a series of charcoal prints displayed next to the radial sections of the tree and charcoal dowels made from the same tree and used in the process. Alongside this, I note the tree’s age and prior location and a price indicating the new value of processed material.

Image notion: Charcoal Print on Paper, 1 of 4. Black Locust, Isle of Dogs. Age 35 years.