Description

In an era where nature is increasingly eroded by industry and technology, Nurture responds critically to the contradictory relationship between humanity and the natural world. The work takes the form of a tree hollow—long imagined as a symbol of confession and reliance, representing secrecy and shelter. Yet here, the words spoken by the audience are not met with understanding or comfort, but with distorted, uncanny bird cries.

This absurd interaction exposes a stark reality: the nature we encounter is no longer pure, but rather a construct continually processed, simulated, and reproduced by human hands. What we believe to be dialogue with nature is, in truth, nothing more than a conversation with its artificial surrogate.

The title Nurture carries a double meaning. On one hand, it recalls the longstanding perception of nature as a source of care and sustenance. On the other, it critiques humanity’s tendency to “cultivate” and domesticate nature through artificial means, reducing it to a resource that can be controlled and consumed. This is not nurture, but a form of false nurture—a counterfeit nature.

Through this subversive experience, Nurture compels viewers to confront a troubling question: when the natural world has been thoroughly artificialized, is the comfort we seek truly present, or merely an illusion of our own making?

Speculative Scenarios: A Future Framework

1. Probable: Virtual Nature as Everday
Given the accelerating pressures of environmental change and technological development, this future scenario is entirely plausible. As ecological disasters, urbanization, and large-scale environmental policies push for "green" technologies, it is entirely possible that humanity will begin to use virtual nature to replace the natural world. This future will fundamentally change how we experience nature, turning it into a consumable product for the masses.

2. Plausible: Governed Simulations of NatureReality
In the near future, governments and corporations might initiate formal "nature reconstruction programs" using virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and sound synthesis to recreate the lost natural world. This scenario wouldn't just be an artistic or scientific pursuit but would reflect political and economic decisions about what the future of nature should look like. These technologies could replace real nature with simulated versions for emotional comfort and environmental restoration.

3. Possible: Extreme Futrues - Artificial Nature as Survival
In extreme scenarios—whether driven by resource scarcity, climate change, or geopolitical conflicts—this simulated nature could become a necessity. Some regions may rely on artificial nature systems as a survival strategy, especially in environments where the physical natural world has become irreparably damaged. These artificial systems could be the only way to "experience" nature in isolated or heavily industrialized areas.

4. Preferable: Linking Today to Tomorrow
Nurture seeks to link the current world to speculative futures. It is not simply a prediction but a reflection of the choices we make today and the potential consequences they carry. The work invites viewers to think critically about how we use technology and what it means to lose touch with nature. It urges us to consider how our technological advancements may displace what was once sacred—nature itself—and whether such advancements truly serve our well-being, or if they simply substitute an illusion of connection for the real thing.

Process

In order to create an installation depicting a future scenario where plants are no longer able to exist, I used artificial leaves and withered tree branches to form the shape of a tree. However, the design intentionally strays from harmony, giving it an unnatural and unsettling appearance. The most challenging part of the creation process was figuring out how to secure these materials in place. Initially, I tried using just glue and tape, but they were insufficient to shape the structure into a cylinder. Later, I rolled a plastic sheet into a tube and placed it in the center. After positioning the branches, I secured them at the base with wire and then glued the artificial leaves and trimmed branches onto the frame.

For the interactive element, I used an Arduino as the control center, incorporating an LED panel to represent the tree’s face and eyes. A microphone module captures sound input, while a buzzer simulates artificial bird calls. Initially, programming the buzzer was challenging because it typically only produces a fixed frequency, which couldn't replicate the eerie bird calls I had envisioned. After some online research, I discovered a mod for generating absolute pitch, and by adapting it, I successfully created a usable version. When sound input is detected, not only does it trigger the bird call, but the LED panel also responds by varying its brightness in proportion to the sound level, similar to the concept of a volume headroom. However, the microphone module's sensitivity was initially unstable, and it was only after consulting with a senior familiar with Arduino development that I was able to fine-tune the module for better performance.