Ending Tree

The Illusion of Endlessness in a Finite Reality creates the illusion of infinity when, in reality, the height of the tree trunk is finite. The illusion is reflected in the golden mirrors showing the perception of endlessness although it is not a reality. This is the conceptual basis for the illusion, that the endless raw material is an illusion.

The Illusion of Endlessness in a Finite Reality is about economic growth and its relationship to resources. Infinite value derived from the extraction, sale, processing and consumption of raw materials cannot endlessly be maintained. Growth is widely celebrated in current times although it is physically impossible to sustain a growth based economy within a finite world. The Illusion of Endlessness in a Finite Reality examines our current economic models and looks to cultivate discussion of a future sustainable economy.

There are three pieces in this series. The first was The Illusion of Endlessness in a Finite Reality. This piece was followed by Endless Tree, and the concluding piece in the series is Ending Tree. Both The Illusion of Endlessness in a Finite Reality and Endless Tree create the endless illusion through the repeated mirrored reflections. Ending Tree does not have a second mirror at the top therefore the illusion of endlessness does not exist in this piece. With Endless Tree, there is an end in sight.

"Nothing, in a finite world, can grow forever." ―David Suzuki

“We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite environment is either a madman or an economist.” ― David Attenborough