About the Exhibition

Trees have lived on Earth since long before human life appeared. They have watched over and nurtured us from our very infancy, providing us with the air we breathe, the food we eat, shade to shelter us, material to build our homes, and limbs to fuel technological progress.

Trees are metaphors for our own lives; mirroring our need for protection and foundations, our yearning for freedom and lightness, our desire to grow and disperse, and our will to become unique individuals while remaining part of a far-reaching community of fellow beings.

Yet we persist in cutting down forests, allowing their ancient wisdom to fall on deaf ears. Even if one part of humanity is actively cultivating and protecting woodland, another is engaging in deforestation and destruction.

Proposition is pleased to present Pansentient Arboriculture, a new solo exhibition by artist Sol Bailey Barker which proposes a system of care in which trees and entire forests are considered sentient and aware, having a form of consciousness. This exhibition decodes our relationship with the arboreal world, considering practices such as agroforestry, ecological preservation, and the cultural and spiritual roles of trees. Drawing on the folklore of Albion, Pansentient Arboriculture builds a bridge to the world our ancestors lived in, extending from their knowledge.

This body of work highlights how trees are central to our wellbeing and long-term flourishing. Bailey Barker presents a series of sculptures carved from the trees of Sussex, exploring the tangible and intangible nature of our relationship with trees. Acknowledging the age of the Anthropocene, his practice is rooted in Ancient Futurism, Druidic knowledge, land stewardship, and modern technologies. Pansentient Arboriculture offers a vision for a harmonious future and a way of life that respects and protects nature. The work responds to the subconscious realm that shapes the collective, cultivating a stronger sense of community with all living entities.

Pansentient Arboriculture will run at Proposition Bethnal Green from 25th April to 7th June 2025.

#PansentientArboriculture

Visit the Exhibition

  • Private View, Thursday 24th April, 6.30pm - 8.30pm: rsvp@propositionstudios.com

  • Free entry, Friday 25th April - Saturday 7th June

  • Open, Wednesday - Saturday: 12pm - 7pm

  • 279 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0EL

Working across a range of media - wood, metal, and clay - Bailey Barker produces works that are at once intricately detailed and monumental in scale. Through artisanal mastery and ritualistic methodologies, he breathes new life into the materials he carves.

Born out of an in-depth study of ancient civilisations, Bailey Barker’s sculptures evoke universal motifs, exploring the ceremonies that connect human experiences across time and space and laying bare our profound connection to the land.

With a particular interest in the evolution of sacred objects and lost cultures, Bailey Barker’s sculptures - whether monumental or intimate - operate as vessels of memory and echoes of myths, inviting audiences to reconnect with a primal sense of wonder and awe.

Mythology and animism are recurring themes in Bailey Barker’s work, with archetypal symbols such as the Tree of Life and narratives like the Great Flood serving as rich sources of inspiration. Motifs of transformation, survival, and transcendence also permeate his work, reflecting his own near-death experience as a child, during which he spent months in a coma.

Situated within the realm of Ancient Futurism, Bailey Barker explores the fusion of indigenous knowledge and practices with modern technologies, creating new blueprints for environmental sustainability, social justice, and community development.

"Through my work, I want to expose the underlying threads that connect all living things. I invite viewers into a shared space of reverie, where history, spirituality, and matter bring to light our common humanity." - Sol Bailey Barker (2025)

Exhibitions and Collections

Bailey Barker’s work has been exhibited globally, with notable exhibitions including:

  • Food of War at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Bogotá, Colombia (2019)

  • Bold Tendencies, London (2020)

  • Zona Maco, Furiosa, Mexico City (2024)

  • Berlin Art Week at Mahalla (2024)

  • Lamb Gallery, Mayfair (2025)

His sculptures are held in numerous private collections across London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Bogotá, Mexico City, Munich, Milan, Lima, Athens, Thailand, and Dubai.

www.solbaileybarker.com // @solbaileybarker // #PansentientArboriculture