ART 384A: Art and Science
Artwork Statement on the Tree of Life
12.11.19
Josie Tiffany
The subject of the piece is the “Tree of Life”, a present project of NASA that attempts to create a natural antennae to sonify the changes on Earth. The project’s intended purpose is to promote longevity so that future, inquisitive generations to come can observe changes and listen to the songs of the Earth. To reiterate once more, the ideology of building a system that can endure time in space as well as a lifetime of continuously supplying information about our surroundings is vastly crucial. Thus, the motivation behind this specific art piece is to convey the Tree of Life’s principle of longevity by visualizing itself against the unknown future.
The acrylic work performed on canvas displays a negative of a pear tree in full blossom. The subject of the piece was not only inspired by the project’s first tree sample, a pear tree, but was also prompted based on the idea of the potential of our future. While we live and work in our daily routine, extremely enveloped by present time, we are a fascinating collection of specimens that are so engrossed in the idea of the future. Our society is controlled as well as mediated on the ideas of preparing for the future and for the next generations that will benefit from us. Therefore, we as a community tend to have hopeful expectations for the next coming day, however environmental impacts have become an increasingly large concern as global warming, deforestation, oil spills, forest fires, etc are harming the state of nature. From the accumulation of chemicals and toxic agents that all individuals use in our routine, the possibility of blocking the essence of life, the Sun, can ruin and destroy the very ecosystem of our Earth as well as future expenditures. While one may believe this trajectory of the art piece to be centralized on the dystopian and pessimistic state of mind, my goal is to test the viewers on their definition of longevity. While in a dark environment, can life still continue? Can continuous progress be made in this project despite a chaotic future? Such questions should be prompted when viewing the art piece, as well as a positive note. The irony to the piece is a full bloomed pear tree that thrives in the dark despite no sunlight aiding it in its growth. Therefore, some hope may arise even in the darkest of days. In addition, the negative of this piece can entail that the original is in a positive setting full of bright colors. Thus, a conclusion based on the possibility of a dystopian or ideal future is determined on the audience’s discretion and how they may contribute to that future
NASA continues to look forward into the possibilities that life may exist on other planets. However, I understand that there is importance in caring and researching more on the life that exists around us. There are many discoveries to be unearthed and appreciation for the environment that sustains us must be in everyone’s mindset in their day-to-day lives. In summary, the artwork, Persistence, is an acrylic based paint that serves to stimulate as well as question the notion on what the future may become and how the longevity of this project can shape that future.
Tiffany , Persistance
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