Knock on Wood

George Nakashima once said, “A mature tree has witnessed much. In complete silence it stands immobile, a god consciousness.”

Sentinels from another time, trees have long been woven into folklore, religion, worship, and superstition. Humankind’s connection to forests—and to the trees that grow within them—is as old as history itself. To carve, craft, or manipulate a piece of wood is to engage in an ancient tradition and relationship, the roots of which still live on today in our superstitions and language.

In ancient pagan cultures, it was believed that spirits lived in trees. Touching a tree, therefore, was a way to call upon the gods—to ask for protection, offer gratitude, or ward off bad luck. The phrase “knock on wood” is thought to have originated from this belief. It acknowledges that to touch wood is to connect with something far greater and far older than oneself. Language reflects this connection as well. In Ancient Rome, it was believed that all life sprang spontaneously from the earth—just as a tree might grow. This belief remains codified in the English language: over time, mater, the Latin word for “mother,” evolved into matter and material, linking the birth of humanity to the very substances of Mother Earth.

On May 14, Egg Collective will open “Knock on Wood,” an exhibition centered on artists whose practices are intimately connected with wood. Playing on themes of luck while exploring the idea of material kinship, the exhibition highlights the reciprocal relationship between maker and material. Challenging the extractivist mindset that underpins much of contemporary culture, Knock on Wood seeks to reanimate one of our most ubiquitous materials—restoring to it its due nobility, warmth, and majesty.

Exhibited artists: Natasha Alphonse, Suzanne Caporael, Hildegarde Haas, Minjae Kim, Kieran Kinsella, Kiva Motnyk, Rodger Stevens, Joshua Vogel, Julian Watts, Rick Yoshimoto, and Egg Collective.