Nature Vs. Nature

Created in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Nature Vs. Nature is a sculptural response to the raw power and paradox of the natural world. In the artist’s home region of North/Central New Jersey, the storm left a trail of destruction — uprooted trees scattered across neighborhoods and forests. The overwhelming presence of these fallen giants sparked a deep reflection on nature’s dual role as both life-giver and force of disruption.

The concept was simple but striking: take an uprooted tree and invert it, placing the exposed root system skyward. By doing so, the piece confronts the viewer with a rarely seen perspective — roots, normally hidden and essential, are laid bare and elevated. The work challenges our assumptions about stability, growth, and the unseen forces that anchor us.

The first iteration of Nature Vs. Nature was completed in the weeks following the storm, using a sizable root system that required four people to carry. Though small in scale compared to the envisioned full installation, it powerfully captured the tension between destruction and beauty, chaos and resilience.