Wood Alchemy
artistic research
2026
HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme
Helsinki, Finland
Partners: HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme, Bioart Society, Koyne Program, SWAMP: Art Material Swap and Waste Management Point, TUO TUO
Photos by: Siavash Minaravesh
Supported by: Nordic Culture Point and Lithuanian Council for Culture
This research reflects on wood alchemy, were the tree is turned to particles and then to standartized solids. The solids are compressed, glued with polymers and laminated with wood grain imitation. Wood is the rarest material in the universe. Even in ancient Egypt wood imitation was used as a portal to the rare and more valuable kinds of wood. In a way, imitation can be a tool to avoid extraction, but what has it turned into during the times of cheap mass production? Looking into forest industry, adhesives and imitation, the research investigates the hyperobjectivity of wood composites.
