This work uses 3D printing technology to produce a scaled-down hollow tree trunk cross-section, its form comes from 3D scans of trees in the High Gate Forest.

I preserved every printing “imperfection”. Visible layered textures, support structures, and traces of imperfections remain exposed on the surface. These marks resemble natural growth rings, documenting the very process of this work's creation.

Between the bark layer and the inner trunk, I designed a hidden double-wall structure. The resulting concealed cavities and micro-pores allow light, air, and subtle moisture to permeate freely.

In these hidden voids, I carefully infused transparent nutrient agar. Two colour-changing bacteria were then inoculated: Serratia marcescens and Purpura porphyrinobacterium. These harmless strains respond vividly to environmental shifts.

Now the trunk truly comes to life. Bacteria slowly grow within, spreading across the agar medium, shifting colour day by day. As colonies expand and transform, visible colours change. At this stage, the work ceases to be a static sculpture, becoming instead a living entity that ages, grows, and dies daily. Colour and texture evolve in real time, rendering each viewing experience unique.