nobles & commoners

2017

The title comes from the first two classes of the Old Irish Tree-List of the ‘Bretha Comaithchesa’ which divided native Irish trees into 4 classes of seven trees each. Nobles: Oak, Hazel, Holly, Yew, Ash, Scots Pine and Wild Apple. Commoners: Alder, Willow, Hawthorn, Rowan, Birch, Elm & Wild Cherry. Penalties for illegal wood-cutting were determined by the class of tree harmed.

The silhouettes have mostly been sourced from the drawings contained within a wonderful book: ‘Trees for Town and Country’ first published in 1947. Each unique pattern of twigs and branches of the above trees have been simplified and abstracted through the drawing, cutting, sanding and construction process. All the trees have been made the same height, a small gesture towards equality perhaps.