In September 2023, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dalibor Martinis about his latest series of works. During our Zoom conversation, the discussion naturally turned to nature and hiking—two recurring themes in his artistic practice and daily life. Over the years, Martinis has meticulously captured the textures of tree bark and their full-scale widths. This process has yielded a detailed photographic archive of environmental and biological history, through which one can trace air quality, soil composition, and even the impacts of human activity.

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Measure This reflects the artist’s encounters with trees during his daily walks through the forests of Kamenjak in Istria. Kamenjak, a natural reserve near Premantura, sits at the edge of the Medulin Archipelago. From its coastline, the sea moves toward the island of Lošinj. On these walks, Martinis assumes the role of curator, documenting trees in the surrounding forests as both subjects and systems of knowledge. The word “curator” derives from the Latin cura, meaning “to take care,” and Martinis views the trees as living archives and artefacts—storied witnesses of time, environmental shifts, and human interventions in the landscape. 

The history of Istrian vegetation is intertwined with human activity and its impact on flora ecosystems. The region’s name originates from the ancient Histri people, who were administratively integrated into the Roman Empire as the Tenth Region (Regio X) under Emperor Augustus. Through different rules, Istria's rich vegetation and fertile lands were valued as important sources of agrarian productivity and of timber. The excessive human intervention significantly changed the region’s natural landscape, leading to deforestation. As the artist demonstrates through his work - the trees of Istria are the living witnesses to the various degrees of human influence on nature. 

Each tree bark, captured in photographs, becomes a unit of measurement—a testament to the passage of time. Growth rings are formed during the cycle of a year. From winter to autumn trees undergo different states, starting from a dormant state, initiation of growth in spring which proceeds until late summer where growth slows down and comes to a halt in winter. A full cycle creates one ring a year which often appears in a darker and a lighter color. Growth during springtime is fueled by sugars stored in the roots of the tree, leading to cells with thinner cell walls which appear lighter in color (early wood). In summer, sugars are supplied by photosynthesis, leading to cells with thicker walls which appear darker in color (late wood). 

Tree growth within one season can be influenced by climate effects changing the conditions within the same growing season. This leads to accelerated or delayed growth rate with changes to the ring width, or complete stop of growth leading to false rings. Tree growth therefore does not only serve as a measure of time but tells us about the history of environmental effects such as wildfires or climate history. The stronger focus on using growth increments of trees to gain knowledge on climatology or ecology thereby seems to be a newer trend. Much earlier, dendrochronology was applied to archaeology and cultural heritage studies such as dating prehistoric settlements and ancient wood artefacts.

Yet, what does it mean to measure a tree? How can a tree's complexity—its growth, age, and relationship to its environment—be translated into visual, digital, or conceptual forms? By engaging with these natural “records”, we are exposed to learning and understanding of environmental changes, human influence on nature and encouraged to gain a deeper appreciation of the interdependence and connectivity between humans and our ecosystems. The artist invites us to dwell upon: How can exposure to history inform the present and shape a more thoughtful future—where we learn from nature instead of overwriting it?  

*curated by Johannes Kreutzer and Lucija Šutej