For my final project at Iceland Academy of the Arts I chose to make an artistic book about trees and timber. The book includes basic information on trees, an article about the tree
of life, as well as details on ten tree types I chose to analyze.
Why did I choose to work with wood and trees?
Trees have fascinated me since childhood. I always found them beautiful and I enjoy spending time surrounded by them in forests and parks. I like how a tree can be a simple sign of nature, but on deeper levels offer a tale on time and growth, or the relationship between nature and men. I would love to see more trees planted and cared for, especially in urban areas in Iceland.
I only realized I was interested in trees a few years ago, but I still did not know much about them. It wasn’t only the shape of the tree, or how it can contribute to a landscape or an urban environment. I liked the wood itself, what it can be used for and the variety of wood types. My dad is a carpenter, as well as my grandfather. Since an early age I have been surrounded with woodwork, timber, and carpentry workshops, which I am sure have influenced my interest and curiosity.
I wanted to take my curiosity further and explore the origins of the woodwork that we live with everyday. I was interested in understanding where something like my hardwood floor came from. What did it look like originally, as a tree?