Ex castanea

Ex castanea (2026) is a sound sculpture. The work was conceived for the Bex Arts 2026 contemporary art triennial, in Szilassy Park in Bex.

A few branches lie on the ground around an old, dead chestnut tree, as if they had fallen from the trunk towering above them. Leaves remain attached to the branches, trembling continuously as though animated by a will of their own.

The leaves of Ex castanea occasionally quiver, driven by small motors powered by solar panels, creating an illusion of photosynthesis. All the energy harvested is spent imitating life, questioning the vanity of progress: technology, even when “clean”, improves nothing and produces nothing; it merely parodies a tree without replacing its role in the wider ecosystem.

Ex castanea blends into the landscape while subtly disrupting it. Technology has silently infiltrated the living world, blurring the boundaries between the organic and the artificial. At a time when technology is being promoted as a miracle solution to the ecological crisis, Rachel Morend takes a critical look at its presence in our landscapes.

Technical details: Hammered and patinated copper leaves, 3V DC motors, solar cells, cables, 3D-printed plastic housings, steel rods.