Nature Revealed
When Nature Suggests the Form
Two slices of mature olive wood, approximately 70–80 years old, became the starting point for an unexpected discovery. While studying their natural contours and the intricate drawings formed by the tree’s growth, d’Almeida recognised that, when mirrored, they could create a shape reminiscent of butterfly wings. From a distance, the composition appears almost geometric; closer inspection reveals something entirely different—the grain, cracks, fragments and countless details preserved within the wood.
That change in perception became central to the work. Through d’Almeida’s Fragmented Reconstruction Technique, the slices were deliberately broken into sections and carefully reconstructed, leaving spaces through which shimmering resin rivers could flow. Rather than hiding the fractures, the process makes them part of the composition. Set within a flowing black mirror-like resin, the organic silhouette allows the natural character of the wood to remain at the centre, transforming what nature provided into a new visual experience.
