canadian artist chisels a giant tree trunk down to a precariously frayed rope

artist maskull lasserre is interested in the unexpected potential of the everyday, often turning ordinary objects — like pianos and paper books — into re-interpreted sculptural forms. ‘schrodinger’s wood’ — lasserre’s latest work — is no exception. a giant ash tree trunk has been fastidiously hand-carved and carefully chiseled down to reveal the form of a precariously frayed rope.

a giant ash tree trunk has been fastidiously hand carved
image courtesy of maskull lasserre

lasserre’s sculptures breach the normality of the everyday by exploring the subject, materiality, and utility of otherwise everyday objects. with this in mind, the artist often incorporates elements of nostalgia, accident, humor, and the macabre into works that produce a strangely familiar, yet uncertain sensibility. the tension in ‘schrodinger’s wood’ is almost palpable: as the tree trunk hangs from a chain hoist and gantry, viewers question the strength of the material, as its middle is carved to near-disintegration. the sculpted rope, with its tattered and frayed edges, carefully holds up the entire bottom half of the tree — a quite uneasy sight.

at the middle of the trunk, a sculpted rope is revealed 
image courtesy of maskull lasserre

the tension in ‘schrodinger’s wood’ is almost palpable
image courtesy of maskull lasserre

as the tree trunk hangs from a chain hoist and gantry, viewers may question the strength of the material
image courtesy of maskull lasserre

work in progress | image courtesy of the odette centre for sculpture, york university, ON

work in progress | image courtesy of the odette centre for sculpture, york university, ON