Black Trunk

Nash charred this signature work for his 2010 Yorkshire Sculpture Park show.

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Black Trunk at Kew Gardens

Date and material

2010
Redwood

Photo: charring Black Trunk at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Charring Black Trunk at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (Photo by David Nash)

A charring spectacle

Black Trunk was charred by laying planks of wood all the way around it in a conical tipi shape with dry kindling inside at the base, which was set on fire. The pyre was allowed to burn for 30 to 40 minutes and was then dismantled and the fire put out.

With oak, the thick texture tends to drop off in patches so Nash scrapes it off and re-chars the surface with propane torch to achieve a durable surface, which he treats with raw linseed oil and preservatives. The thick char on redwood tends not to fall off though, so Nash has left it on Black Trunk. The loose charring on the outside was scraped off before the sculpture was treated with preservative and linseed oil.

Nash charred Black Trunk alongside Black Butt and in doing so, linked them, creating a pair. They have since become separate as Nash feels that Black Trunk can stand on its own. Black Butt being a very old piece of elm will not ensure outside so has been cast into bronze.

Photo: Black Trunk being carved in California

Black Trunk being carved in California (Photo by David Nash)

Finding wood for Black Trunk

Nash travelled to California to sculpt this from the trunk of a redwood. The tree he chose had a natural fissure that he extended, carving into it by following indications that were already there. Nash describes redwoods as giant trees, vertical, strong and useful for sculpture because of their great mass. He alludes to the atmosphere of a redwood grove as benign and calm, with a timeless sense of 'being'.