Cambridge West Commission 'Third Nature' by Troika, London

CAS *Consultancy is delighted to announce that Cambridge West will unveil a new public artwork, Third Nature, by the artist trio Troika London. 

A living artwork, Third Nature, consists of 15 native and non-native mature trees planted in a grid pattern typically associated with plug-ins for the creation of natural elements such as trees, plants and rocks in virtual softwares.  

The project explores the idea of ecological simulacra by investigating how virtual possibilities increasingly inform the real world, real spaces, and the way we perceive, depict and construct our environment and nature itself. 

Troika is a Franco-German contemporary art group formed by Eva Rucki, Conny Freyer and Sebastien Noel in 2003. Based in London, the trio works across media in sculpture, film, installation, and painting, their work contemplates humanity’s experiences and attitudes towards new technologies and how these transform our understanding and relationships to nature, each other and the wider world. Their artworks broach themes that include artificial intelligence, algorithmic data, forms of life, virtual and physical representation systems. 

Third Nature was commissioned by the University of Cambridge as part of a site and context specific art programme developed by the the Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy. The trio's search for the right trees was supported by the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens whilst a Cambridge-based nursery provided support to source the species across the UK and Europe. The scheme was planted by Blakedown Landscapes. Cambridge West is a collaborative place supported by the university that attracts talent and innovation for societal impact.