Kate Studley

A temporal space for experimentation was also explored through the investigation of new materials for artistic practice, particularly by studying the properties of pine resin. For use in temporary, transient sculptures, pine resin is an intriguing material: it decomposes slowly but often appears permanent due to its amber color and material composition. This interplay between permanence and transience has prompted reflection on the role of ephemeral materials in time-based artworks.

​As a material, pine resin is fragile, sensitive to temperature and structural stress, yet it can last between 50 and 100 years before decomposing. This aligns with a romanticised idea of artistic authorship, in which a work exists alongside the artist’s lifetime. When combined with natural oils and heated to different temperatures, the material’s properties change, allowing it to be manipulated into forms that transform over time.

 

Lightboxes have been used as a way to present the research findings

Like a fly in amber #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 I 2026 I Pine resin set in a pine wood light box I 12 x 12 x 12cm
Tree resin study #3, #4 I 2026 I Pine resin set in a pine wood light box I 15 x 15 x 15cm