Oak Gall Ink:
Making and Experimentation

Temporary Nature Installation
2015

The English Oak, Quercus robur, supports more species of organism than any other tree species in the UK.

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We were particularly interested in the parasitic relationship of the gall wasp, which lays its eggs in the female lower
of the oak, changing its DNA to produce a gall rather than an acorn.

The installation is a celebration of the oak tree and our abstract concept is represented through layers of symbolism. Arranged in a cyclical but spiralling fashion, the inks are organised chronologically by the age of the recipe used, reflecting the element of recording history as well as the development and experimentation of the ink making process.

The scale of the inks when installed will be subtle at a distance, but once seen and approached, will seek to be a
spectacle. Having taken the galls as a resource for our installation, we return the products back to the tree in hope that a keen eye will discover what we have made and learn something about this iconic species.