Each tree has a soul
A series of studies for the project

In this project, I capture trees with unique and peculiar shapes that I come across in parks and streets of Columbus. The objective is to examine the trees not only as elements of the natural or urban landscapes, but as protagonists.  Each tree portrait represents the tree's characteristics, personality, and mood. The tree is seen not only as an element of the landscape, but as an urban hero in its own right, a character who lives in the urban environment on an equal footing with the people of the city.

 

The tree serves as a metaphor for the universe's structure, with its roots reaching into the underworld, its crown representing the sky, and its trunk signifying the earthly world. This concept forms the foundation of the Vedic Tree of Life symbol, embodying eternal life, eternal renewal, and rebirth. I adopt the symbolists' technique of imbuing an ordinary plot with additional meanings to expose nature's mysteries.