Exhibitor’s Stories

‘Cambio’ is an ongoing investigation by Formafantasma into the governance of the timber industry and its impact on the biosphere. The exhibition at Serpentine Galleries showcased rare hardwood samples from the 1851 Great Exhibition, representing trees logged to the point of extinction, to the furniture made from a fallen tree in Italy in 2018. Cambio references the cambial layer, and like the rings of a tree, the central spaces of the exhibition present data, research and two films made by Formafantasma in response to it. The perimeter spaces offer case studies that provide insight into the way wood is sourced and used. Each of these investigations represents a collaboration with experts from the fields of science, conservation, engineering, policymaking and philosophy. Together, they move from a microscopic analysis of wood and its ability to store carbon dioxide, to a metaphysical understanding of trees as living organisms. The exhibition emphasises the role of design in the environment and the need for informed, collaborative responses to environmental issues.

Research, videos, archive available at : www.cambio.website