tree, 2005
This installation shifts away from the conventional gallery walls, evoking the ambiance of a domestic interior through the incorporation of a symbolic cardboard chair. Positioned in front of this chair, a projected video serves as a visual narrative, capturing the end of the life cycle for a tree and its eventual removal, unfolding over a twelve-hour period.
The video is divided into three distinct segments, mirroring the passage of time throughout the day. The initial segment captures the tree from dawn to the early afternoon, portraying its existence in the natural environment. The second segment shifts focus as arborists methodically cut and remove the tree. The narrative then centers on the absence of the tree, highlighting its sudden and forceful removal, and culminates with the visual imagery of the sun setting, marking the completion of the tree's journey.
The deliberate division of the video into three segments corresponds to different phases of the day, emphasizing the temporal aspect of the project. The initial part focuses on the tree in its natural state, from dawn to early afternoon, depicting its existence within the natural environment. The second segment transitions to the intervention of arborists who systematically cut and remove the tree. This shift in focus marks a pivotal moment in the tree's journey. The final segment centers on the absence of the tree, underlining the abrupt and forceful nature of its removal. The visual conclusion of the sun setting signifies the culmination of the tree's narrative, highlighting themes of transience, environmental impact, and the interplay between nature and human intervention. The installation as a whole represents the passage of time, change, and the profound impact of human actions on the natural world.
tree, video installation in studio, 2005
tree, video installation in studio, 2005
tree, video installation at Brandstater Gallery, 2005
tree, video installation at Brandstater Gallery, 2005
tree, video installation at Brandstater Gallery, 2005
This installation was featured in CHEAP NEW WORLDS which was comprises three rooms, each reimagining domestic interiors and delving into the intricate relationships we form with the "objects" that populate our world. These relationships, in turn, shape the landscapes within which these objects are placed. The term "object" extends beyond mere tangible entities, encompassing various forms, including people or things towards which actions or feelings are directed.
In each of the three rooms, a distinct life experience is framed, aiming to recreate, for the physical senses, phenomenological impressions. Leveraging virtual space and capitalizing on the viewer's pursuit of what I refer to as the "super-real," these installations explore our collective fascination with mimicking reality. This preoccupation has spurred a quest for a version of the "real" that surpasses the authenticity of reality itself.
The cultural obsession with representation manifests as a yearning for a virtual reality driven by our desire for this elusive "super-reality," allowing us to transcend the constraints of what is actually real. The pursuit of this heightened reality unfolds both within the recesses of the mind and in physical space, signifying an escape into realms that exist beyond the boundaries of our immediate reality.