Xylemia

Through sensors, this artwork reveals the real-time flow of sap within the tree. Xylemia captures the essential movement of water and nutrients from the roots through the xylem vessels, making visible the lifeblood of the tree it’s connected to. This flow, driven by root pressure, capillary action, and transpiration, is fundamental to the tree’s health and its response to environmental changes.

By unveiling the unified flow, the piece is creating the feeling of similarity between the flows inside nature and us. Xylemia bridges the gap between human experience and the often invisible but comparable processes of nature. As visitors engage with the installation, they witness a living system at work, reflecting our own lifeblood and rhythms, provoking the core message of the work.

In whom we can reflect, we protect.

By visualizing the tree's inner life, Xylemia fosters a deeper connection and empathy towards these vital beings, encouraging a sense of responsibility and urgency in their preservation. This artwork is not just a visualization; it is a call to recognize and protect the interconnected life systems we depend on (see study *1).

Xylemia’s sculpture shape feels like a symbiotic creation, intertwining the roots of art and science much like vine roots wrap around a tree trunk. This installation employs cutting-edge sensors to unveil the sap flow within trees in real-time, making the unseen lifeblood of these majestic beings visible.

These sensors, akin to a modern-day stethoscope, measure the sap flow, capturing how much water the tree absorbs. This data, represented visually, shows us how trees interact with their environment, normally hidden behind their bark. It works as a way to reconnect to nature through a language that we know, data, and bringing that into a visualization that emphasizes their status as living beings that lead lives at a different speed than us humans.

The scientific aspect of this work delves into the process of sap flow or xylem transport, a critical component of tree physiology. Sap flow is the movement of water and nutrients from the roots through the xylem vessels to the rest of the tree. This flow is driven by a combination of root pressure, capillary action, and transpiration pull. By monitoring this process, we gain insights into a tree’s health, see and reflect on her response to environmental changes, and the broader implications for forest ecosystems amidst the climate crisis.

The work is created in collaboration with Ruinart as a commission of the Carte Blanche of 2024, ending up in the beautiful new garden at the Reims Champagne house. Frédéric Panaïotis, Ruinart Cellar Master, and I are passionate about scientific data that helps us understand nature and how it is affected by global warming. Through this artwork, visitors to Ruinart Artists’ Garden will discover how nature is alive, revealed by data in a form that they can directly see. It will create a bridge between science and culture.

Commissioned by
Ruinart

Artist
Thijs Biersteker

Sustainably produced at
Woven Studio

Studio Director
Sophie de Krom

Technical Engineer
Bastiaan Kennedy, Tomáš Potůček
Thijs Biersteker, Denisa Půbalová

Technical lead
Tomáš Potůček

Software 
Boompje studio and Denisa Půbalová

Recycled 3d print
The New RAW

Technical Assistants
Theo Rekelhof, An de Hoop, Storm van Gils, Nathan Pottier

Scientific feedback
Frédéric Panaïotis

With special thanks to
Frédéric Dufour, Fabien Vallérian, Frédéric Panaïotis, Violaine Grégoire, Sander van Gelswijck, Krista Middelton, Marie Louise Sillem, Lucie Levesques, Jean Baptiste Duquesne, Decent lab and all else involved. 

Research on reflection:
Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Davis, M. H. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(1), 113-126.

Collaboration:
Ruinart
Decent Lab sensor