David Claerbout Backwards Growing Tree, 2023
Claerbout encountered the tree while hiking in the area and was struck by its unusual, weather-beaten form. Using five years of weather data collected from the location, the artist digitally reconstructed an imagined pattern of the tree’s development under the changing conditions of its environment. Rather than depicting its natural development from sapling to maturity, however, the artist reverses the process: the tree grows backwards.
Clouds, rain, changing light, and the transition between day and night all move in reverse, yet remain remarkably convincing. Created through sophisticated computer-generated imagery, the work achieves an almost photographic realism, or hyperreality in Claerbout's term. At first, the landscape appears entirely familiar; only gradually do small discrepancies begin to disturb our perception.
The work plays with our expectations of how nature develops. Wind, rain and clouds behave according to the visual logic of the real world, but their movement is temporally inverted. Ultimately, the process reaches its logical conclusion: the tree disappears.
Claerbout's film alerts viewers to the uncertain boundaries between the technical and the organic, between artifice and nature. Our perception, to Claerbout, lives at the intersection of these realms, in the constant negotiation of what we see and what we believe.
INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS (for public presentation)
– Minimum room dimensions: 3,15 (H) x 10 (W) x 15 (L) m.
– Approximate projection size: 253 (H) x 450 (W) cm (width of 400 cm minimum), aspect ratio is 16:9.
– The image is projected on a custom built screen, suspended from the ceiling.
– The room should be completely darkened.
– Color reference of the walls except the projection surface: RAL 7016.
– Color reference of the projection surface: Bright white.
– One or two simple benches for at least 4 persons should be provided.
– Alternatively, the work can be presented on a LED screen (minimum size 300 x 400 cm).
– When shown on a LED screen the room does not need to be completely darkened.
– It is highly advised that the artist and/or artist's assistant supervises the installation, being present at the site.
COMPONENTS INCLUDED IN SALE
– Hardware and software for exhibiting the work (PC, Minidisk containing documentation, installation instructions digital, text, press text, stills, install views)
– Certificate of authenticity
– Installation manual
COMPONENTS NOT INCLUDED IN SALE
– 1x Projector with minimum 12000 lumen (reference model: Panasonic PT-REQ12) or LED wall.
– 1x Media player with Class 10 SD card of minimum 128GB (reference model: BrightSign XD 1035).
– 2x Speakers.
– 1x Stereo amplifier.
– Space conditioning.