David Laird: The One Tree Exhibition

New Zealand maker David Laird's new solo exhibition is all about celebrating the life and value of trees. In fact, The One Tree Exhibition is just that – a series of works created from a single tree. The exhibition opens 26 January and runs until 1 March, 2025 at Chamber Gallery, Rangiora, New Zealand.

‘The subject of the exhibition’, explains David, ‘is a mature English elm tree from Hororata that was blown over by strong nor-west winds on 9 October 2021. The timber was milled on the 4 December 2021. My journey to pay respect to this fallen tree started then.’

‘Trees are the lungs of the earth by producing oxygen, they also in this process capture carbon’, says David. ‘Utilising end-of-life timber will continue to capture the carbon contained within the timber until the it decays or is burned. The purpose of this exhibition is to start the conversation about the possibilities for end-of-life trees.’

Each of the works displayed is also a testament to David Laird's explorations into ‘green and sustainable ways of producing items that will last and can be repaired. Considering the environmental challenges we face, I believe that sustainability should be synonymous with good design.’

‘Combining traditional knowledge about milling, seasoning and steam bending timber with modern methods allows for a very efficient process that weighs lightly on the planet. In the 16 items on display, 527.3kg of CO2 has been secured within the wood of this furniture as biogenic carbon. An elm tree of this size sequesters 25kg CO2 annually. The CO2 fixed within these items would take one living tree 21 years to sequester this amount of biogenic carbon.’

David Laird was the Recycled & Rescued winner for maker of the Year Awards in 2023.
In Australian Wood Review issue 123 David explained how to make his ‘spade-handle’ tables.
Learn more about David Laird at https://www.davidlairdchairbler.co.nz