Hypothesis of a Tree

Overview

Mariana Castillo Deball explores the ideologically constructed conditions under which artefacts appear in today’s culture as well as the role that these objects play in the construction of identity, culture and history. Through research and collaboration across disciplines such as archaeology and science, she takes a kaleidoscopic approach to her practice, creating works in a range of mediums that arise from the collision and recombination of these different languages, systems of order and classifications.

Hypothesis of a Tree (2016) addresses the divergent theories about time pursued across the studies of genetic data and paleontology. The spiralling bamboo structure is based on a phylogenetic tree that diagrams the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species based upon similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics. From each of its 56 outer branches hangs a paper rubbing of fossil sediments representing a species. The drawing technique used for the piece was borrowed from Merle Greene Robertson, an American archaeologist, who conducted extensive research in the Maya region and developed this method of paper rubbing using Japanese paper and ink, leading to the creation of around 5,000 images of monuments. Castillo Deball’s Hypothesis of a Tree reunites the tangible materiality of fossils, which have left their imprint on stone, with the cybernetic study of genomes on the horizon.

This project was part of Sharjah Biennial 13.