Created out of a fungal-infested tree on Cornell University’s campus, “Conruptus” means “rotten,” “marred,” or “corrupted.” As two words, “con ruptus” also means “broken by.” This double entendre refers to the tree breaking up the trunk due to its rotten interior, instead of overturning with its roots. This condition is becoming more common with climate change as the soil fungi are becoming more aggressive, infecting mature hardwoods such as cherry and oak. These apparently healthy trees will suddenly fall in a windstorm, their trunks breaking like twigs, leaving their roots in the ground. This piece is from the part of the tree left in the ground, while its sister piece, “Torqueo,” is from the broken trunk. Its dimensions correspond to the Fibonacci series and the Golden Ratio, a numerical relationship found throughout natural forms.
