Concrete Forest

2007

The group project for my BA module on Exhibition Theory and Practice was a profound statement on consumerism, nature, and sustainability, set against the backdrop of a self-storage warehouse on the outskirts of Sheffield. Our installation consisted of 25 striking 25-foot trees, each meticulously planted within a grid of concrete blocks. This juxtaposition of organic and industrial elements in an unexpected urban setting created a powerful visual and conceptual impact.

The choice of a self-storage warehouse, a symbol of consumer culture where excess possessions are often hidden away, provided a stark commentary on the accumulation and storage of material goods in contemporary society. By bringing elements of nature into this space, we aimed to draw attention to the often-ignored relationship between consumerism and the natural world. The trees, in their majestic and unyielding form, stood as silent yet potent reminders of the natural environment that is routinely overlooked orsacrificed in the pursuit of economic growth and consumer satisfaction.

The grid of concrete blocks symbolized the rigid, often unforgiving infrastructure of urban development, which frequently encroaches upon and disrupts natural landscapes. The presence of these trees in such a setting was a call to re-evaluate our priorities and to consider the sustainability of our consumption patterns. The installation served as a metaphor for the resilience and persistence of nature, even in the face of human-made structures and systems that seek to contain or control it.

Overall, this project was an exploration of the dichotomy between the man-made and the natural, and a critique of the consumerist values that dominate modern society. By placing nature in a context associated with the storage and accumulation of consumer goods, we sought to provoke reflection on our relationship with the environment and to question the sustainability of our current trajectories. The installation was not just a visual spectacle but a thought-provoking statement about the urgent need to harmonize our consumer habits with the natural world.