Augmented tree-rings

Abstract

This artwork uses image detection of natural markers in augmented reality (AR) to show how environmental bio-indicators reveal information, climate-proxy data, about past and current ecosystems. It builds on innovative research that demonstrates augmentation of specific objects such as leaves, tree-rings, rocks and shells can reimagine the affordances of natural objects, and reconfigure potential communication channels between humans, nature and technology. It demonstrates that AR offers alternative extensions to what humans are usually able to perceive from observing nature through artistic use of emerging technology. This work is experienced through an AR app that responds to a series of wood cuts augmented with layers of hand-drawn animation responding to patterns of tree ring growth. The animations reflect climate events or other factors recorded in dendrochronology, for example rain, fire, and insect life. Each piece contains an animation specifically designed for its surface, as well as accumulating the animations of the previous wood cuts in multiple layers. For example, the smallest wood cut has only one animation and the largest has up to ten layers, representing different climate conditions recorded through time. Video documentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4XYk_HazFc