Preserving Impermanence: A Virtual Forest

During my 6th semester at ArtEZ University of the arts, I set out to digitally preserve a fleeting part of nature—trees near my hometown that are destined to be cut down in the near future. Using 3D scanning technology, I captured these trees, transforming them into highly detailed digital models. Through this process, I aimed to document their existence before they disappear, raising awareness about the environmental impact of deforestation and urban development.

Rather than letting these trees vanish without a trace, I reimagined them in a new, digital space. By placing the scanned models within a virtual reality environment, I constructed an immersive virtual forest—a space where these trees can continue to exist beyond their physical lifespan. This VR experience allows viewers to engage with nature in a new way, offering a space for reflection on the delicate balance between progress and preservation.

This project serves as both a tribute and a protest, emphasizing the value of the natural world while highlighting the ways in which technology can be used to document, remember, and reimagine what we stand to lose.