Meet Our Illumine Artists: Gavin Bernard

This body of work began as an exploration in mapping the architecture of fallen or dead trees. Through the process of mapping, the frailty of the decomposing tree becomes increasingly apparent, leaving the PVC piping as the enduring remains of the tree’s original essence. This work investigates notions of artificial, plastic realities we have normalized in society. This particular Oakland tree was consumed and ultimately killed by English Ivey, a notorious threat to the life and vitality of trees. The PVC mapping becomes a different kind of invasive vine, used as the symbol to represent the built environment and our propensity to destroy nature for the sake of development. As one of the most essential construction materials, PVC is like an unseen root network in the foundations of our homes and city structures. In What Remains we see this material choking out the tree while also mimicking its form. These sculptures also serve to archive the tree, and are a kind of swan song for the ways human development appropriates and exploits nature for our own short-sighted benefit.