Branches with a face (2019)

Branches with a face is a kinetic sculpture from branches, stones and second-hand mechanical parts sourced in little stalls near Jongno-3-ga metrostation. The work was created during my exchange period at K’Arts University in Seoul, I starting with the question:
“How do I emphatize with a tree?” 

Inspired by Immanel Levinas, who emphasizes the face as the foundation of moral behavior, I explored how I could relate to the tree by giving it the shape and movement of a human body, anthropomorphising it to see the tree as ‘other’. Levinas posits that encountering a face of another integrates them into our world, giving us a deep sense of duty. On the other side, stripping someone of their ‘face’. risks dehumanization and exploitation. With this in mind, the work seeks to challenge the commodification of the tree by giving it a face and imagining it as ‘other’.


The work is part of a series of artworks on trees, preceded by To become a tree (2018) and continued by Pondering the Knuckles (2021).


medium: 

branches
second-hand industrial grade geared motor
springs
stones
steel parts
steel cable and rods


This work was shown at


K’ Arts University
06.06.2019
Seoul, South Korea