Treelemma

Every time a forest burns a poetic obituary is written.

This project is based on satellite data that detects all forest fires occurring across Earth. Each time a new forest fire is registered, an AI system is activated. The purpose of this AI is to compose a poetic epitaph (ormemorial) that commemorates the event in an elusive and reflective manner. The tone of the AI’s writing has been consciously shaped by training it with a diverse collection of classical haikus. Whenever a new wildfire is detected, a new memorial is written.

A screenshot showing the code behind the Treelemma system as it receives satellite data and connects it to our customized AI, which, once a fire is detected, will begin writing a commemorative epitaph.
The display of ‘Treelemma’ consists of two components: A large projection of the most recent epitaph (that has been written by our customized AI). And, a device next to it that shows the coordinates of the corresponding forest fire that triggered the epitaph in the projection.
Rather than displaying each “forest-epitaph” as static text, the AI-generated epitaph is transformed into an animation in which the text alternates between turning into ashes and becoming legible. This timelapse captures different moments of that fluctuation. Inspired by the quiet structure of haikus, this epitaph reads: On the river bank. A great blue-bellied lizard. Bit by bit, he’s gone.

Treelemma (2023)

AI-generated poetry system triggered by real-time satellite data, large-scale text animation projection, and Ethereum blockchain storage for permanent archiving.

Medium

Generative artificial intelligence, Video

Treelemma

This work is part of the Narrative: