arbor Vitae

   

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The exhibition’s title, Ignition and Confluence: The River of Us, serves as a central metaphor for exploring theories on the emergence of life and the evolution of collectivity. "Ignition" represents the initial spark—whether archaic abiogenesis or neoteric de-extinction—while "Confluence" symbolises the sustaining force of collective action, akin to two rivers merging to form a single, more powerful entity.

The sculptures on view challenge prevailing notions of evolution, such as "survival of the fittest." Drawing on phenomena from eusociality to biological colonies, from slime moulds to bacterial altruism, Üster posits that self-sacrifice and cooperation, rather than individual competition, have been fundamental to the continuity of species during a state of deprivation. In these ethically layered encounters, the artist visualises an alternative societal model in which humanity speculatively adapts from biologically less complex yet socially more advanced life forms.

Arbor Vitae, 2025, variable dimensions, cherry tree, glass, wood, epoxy putty, silk, porridge oats, aluminium, modelling materials, velvet powder.

Photo credit: Nazli Erdemirel