Ghost Trees

An ephemeral, artistic presentation, Ghost Trees explores the emotional and visual depths of scientific data regarding climate change. The work is created from large sets of data points provided by environmental scientist, Kim Calders, to simulate the global reaction towards our natural environment in crisis. They are literal memories of environments that will one day disappear.

Created by visualizing and sonifying big data-sets provided by TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network). Ghost Trees brings to life the endangered Rushworth Forest, (Victoria, Australia) in the lands of the Ngurai-illam-wurrung people. These datasets are ephemeral yet fixed recordings of dying ecosystems; digital memories of disappearing landscapes, echoes of our lost environment. LIDAR scans take the viewpoint of someone within the landscape and from within the limbs of the trees – we become part of the organism. Eco acoustic site recordings are studied and processed to reveal the inherent musicality of the forest and its inhabitants. Melodic elements are generated from the trees spatial data points – the forest is singing. The work strives to re-imagine and re-experience our connection to the wonder and awe of the natural environment through art, data, science and technology. The use of digital technologies – the new and thriving ecosystem – offers a counterpoint to the endangered natural environment and a doorway through which to remotely experience it in an entirely new way.