Katie Paterson
Wilderness, 2024
urushi lacquer painting made with ash from 10,000 trees
2 of 10
2 of 10
45 x 45 x 1.2 cm
17 3/4 x 17 3/4 x 1/2 in
17 3/4 x 17 3/4 x 1/2 in
series of 10 plus 2 artist proofs
Wilderness 2025 Black lacquer is infused with the ashes of over 10,000 unique tree species. This artwork employs the Urushi method, an ancient Japanese technique that involves harvesting natural resin...
Wilderness
2025
Black lacquer is infused with the ashes of over 10,000 unique tree species. This artwork employs the Urushi method, an ancient Japanese technique that involves harvesting natural resin from the Urushi lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) and meticulously layering it onto surfaces, creating a deep, lustrous finish. Through this process, the ashes are suspended within the lacquer, preserving the immensity of countless trees in a single, luminous surface.
As each layer of resin is applied, it both encases and elevates the ash, transforming it into an eternal record of the trees’ presence. The resulting work is a striking, simple black monochrome, yet within it lies the profound story of tree life across millennia—of forests stretching from ancient times to the present. The wood upon which the Urushi is layered is Ginkgo biloba, a living fossil that has existed for millions of years.
2025
Black lacquer is infused with the ashes of over 10,000 unique tree species. This artwork employs the Urushi method, an ancient Japanese technique that involves harvesting natural resin from the Urushi lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) and meticulously layering it onto surfaces, creating a deep, lustrous finish. Through this process, the ashes are suspended within the lacquer, preserving the immensity of countless trees in a single, luminous surface.
As each layer of resin is applied, it both encases and elevates the ash, transforming it into an eternal record of the trees’ presence. The resulting work is a striking, simple black monochrome, yet within it lies the profound story of tree life across millennia—of forests stretching from ancient times to the present. The wood upon which the Urushi is layered is Ginkgo biloba, a living fossil that has existed for millions of years.