Artists Explore Ancient Wisdom Hidden in Trees
### Exploring Art, Knowledge, and Ecology Through Technology at the Skirball Cultural Center
**LOS ANGELES** – Tiffany Shlain and Ken Goldberg, two Bay Area artists, have once again pushed the boundaries of art and science, intertwining these disciplines to explore humanity’s evolving relationship with knowledge, nature, and technology in their new exhibition *Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology*. Displayed at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles and part of the Getty’s PST ART initiative, this installation is an intellectual and artistic homage to the human quest for understanding, documented through intricate timelines etched onto fallen, salvaged trees.
#### **The Intersection of Art, Science, and History**
The heart of this multi-layered exhibition lies in its central sculpture, *Tree of Knowledge*. Carved from a majestic tree, this sculpture marries both rough and smooth textures — a duality that reflects humans’ evolution from primal knowledge to refined philosophical inquiry. The tree itself is emblazoned with 160 questions that span across several categories, from existential queries such as “Why do I exist?” to prescient, modern-day concerns like “How will we live in a changing climate?” These questions spiral from basic survival to our current understanding and interrogation of civilizations and science.
Complimenting this profound piece are several other works, each delving into specific intersections of art, knowledge, history, and nature. The installation is presented using reclaimed wood, embracing an organic medium that symbolizes both the continuity and disruption in human history.
#### **Timelines to Perceive Knowledge**
Shlain and Goldberg have incorporated pyrography — the ancient art of wood burning — to trace human paradigms onto fallen tree fragments. From ancient civilizations to the digital age, the rings of the trees serve as metaphors for the passage of time and the accumulation (or erasure) of knowledge.
One of the most striking pieces in this collection is *If We Lose Ourselves*, a wall sculpture that explores the evolution of knowledge storage methods; it begins with the invention of writing and culminates ominously with ChatGPT’s introduction. This timeline charts pivotal moments in history such as the invention of algebra, the founding of the Library of Congress, and chilling moments like the Nazi book burnings.
Then there’s *Abstract Expression*, another compelling sculpture, documenting the development of mathematical equations over millennia, connecting profound thinkers from Pythagoras through to present-day artificial intelligence systems. Its center is purposefully left unarticulated, an echo of the enduring mystery of life, symbolized by both a question mark and the ideal proportions from Leonardo da Vinci’s *Vitruvian Man* — hinting at the enigmatic nature of knowledge itself.
Meanwhile, a timeline titled *DendroJudaeology* explores Jewish history, blending sacred events like the Exodus with popular culture moments, such as Marilyn Monroe’s conversion to Judaism and the Broadway success of *Fiddler on the Roof*. The result is a layered narrative that honors both the enduring spirit of the Jewish people and the way cultural knowledge is both preserved and adapted over time.
#### **Art as Participatory Ecology**
A central theme in the exhibition is humanity’s evolving relationship with trees. Shlain and Goldberg have delved into the ecological conversation with their video work, *Speculation, Like Nature, Abhors a Vacuum*, a layered homage to the painter Ed Ruscha. This video stitches together AI-generated images derived from Google Maps and Earth to document the trees along four major Los Angeles streets.
In addition to this visual celebration, there is an intriguing participatory element. Visitors are invited to measure the largest tree in their neighborhood, photograph it, and upload its data to a special online gallery. Once submitted, AI analyzes the inputs to estimate the tree’s age and generates an imagined, “idealized” image of that tree, accompanied by its unique virtual history.
This project’s interactive nature thoughtfully merges an ancient tradition — the Jewish custom of planting trees in honor of a loved one — with modern-day artificial intelligence technology. It beckons visitors to not only contemplate the relationship between humanity and the environment but to actively contribute to a high-tech tree tribute, opening a dialogue on how memory, tradition, and conservation can co-exist in a digitized world.
#### **The Broader Message: Knowledge and Ecology for the Future**
Throughout *Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology*, Shlain and Goldberg shine a light on ecological regeneration, historical conservation, and the future of world knowledge. Their exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the interface between the ancient and the modern — how wisdom derived from history, as recorded through tree rings, intersects with today’s technological advancements. Through salvaging fallen trees, etching knowledge onto them, and using AI to celebrate living trees, the artists cleverly question whether our technological strides are in harmony with, or in opposition to, the natural world.
Most importantly, *Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology* serves as