Cambridge West unveils a new public artwork by Troika, Third Nature, for its new innovation district.Third Nature is a living artwork consisting of 15 native and non-native mature trees planted in a grid pattern. This pattern evokes the plug-ins used in virtual software to create natural elements like trees, plants, and rocks.
The project explores the concept of ecological simulacra, investigating how virtual possibilities increasingly influence the real world, physical spaces, and our perception, representation, and design of the environment and nature itself.
Third Nature was commissioned by the University of Cambridge as part of a site-specific art program developed by the Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy. The search for suitable trees was supported by the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, while a Cambridge-based tree nursery assisted in sourcing the tree species from the UK and Europe. The project was planted by Blakedown Landscapes. Cambridge West is a collaborative space supported by the University, attracting talent and innovations with societal impact.
Troika
Third Nature, 2024
Permanent Installation, University of Cambridge, UK
