Tomorrow’s fossil

Charred wood using the Shou Sugi Ban technique
 
This work presents the tree as a future fossil, a silent witness to a world that has been radically transformed by deforestation and climate change. By charring the wood, it draws attention to the vulnerability of our ecosystems and to our responsibility for their conservation. What is still alive today may, by tomorrow, be nothing more than a trace of what we have lost.

The presentation of this work during WONDER aligns with the vision of Domaine de Graux, where art is used as a means to reflect on our relationship with nature, the landscape and agriculture. As a foretaste of the future art trail on the estate, ‘Fossil of Tomorrow’ invites visitors to reflect on the impact of human choices on the environment and on the question of what traces we leave behind for future generations.

Domaine de Graux, situated near Tournai, is committed to demonstrating the benefits of large-scale agroecology for farmers and the environment. Its mission is to show how regenerative farming practices can restore soil health, enhance biodiversity and contribute to more resilient food systems. Alongside its agricultural activities, the estate serves as a place for reflection, learning and reconnection, where visitors are invited to explore the relationships between landscape, ecology, food and society.