2021-2024 monitoring & documenting the growth & roots
Key Meanings: Art and science serve in investigating nature in unnatural conditions. Exposing and monitoring the hidden part of trees
Artist Statement: “I decided to grow a living Ficus Benjamina Tree from a large suspended glass container, which exposes the tree’s root system as well as its branches and leaves. Glass-Tube Ficus creates a small laboratory image in which the tree receives artificial lighting, a special growing medium, custom irrigation, fertilization & drainage - and will be monitored constantly by a system designed at the Hebrew University.”
The creation of this sculpture in the 17th floor University space, may show a way to investigate and appreciate nature actively even in the most artificial environments.”
"To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul."
Simone Weil, The Need for Roots (1943)
"The root systems of terrestrial plants perform two primary functions: one is the acquasition of soil based resources (principally, water and dissolved ions) and the other is anchorage."
A.H.Fltter, Characteristics and Function of Plant Systems (1991)
"From the root grows the way." Confucius, The Analects
Glass Tube Ficus, May 2023, 探索神 (Kan Motio) 「広告資料」
GTF : The stainless steel parts and cables – Produced at the Nidco factory in Israel, September-October 2020 The stainless steel parts and the cables were produced in Israel under R. Morin’s supervision , shipped to China and then fitted with the specially fabricated 700 mm clear tube
GTF Installation– 16.11.2020
The installation of the sculpture was performed by the Froots team according to my plans and detailed directions. Although I was very much involved, it was very strange not to be present during the installation of one of my sculptures.
Root Development
Part of the activity related to the project is observing the development of the roots. We keep weekly record of the roots so that we can study their development over time.
