The Sitka Spruce, originally from the United States and Canada, was planted in Ireland for timber production during the 1960s . The forest now holds significant value to the local economy and state's pension system. However, the invasive species inadvertently created an ecological dead zone. The closely spaced trees limited sunlight from reaching the forest floor, and their pine-like needles emitted acid, negatively affecting the salmon population in the fjords. The Sitka spruce forest is a complex web of ecological and economic significance.

Mark's creative process began with a walk through the forest. A tree with an odd-looking structure caught his attention and for a lack of better words... It was love at first sight. After cutting down the tree, he stared at its stump for a moment, carefully counting each dark ring. For him, it was awe-inspiring to read the tree’s growth history and realize it was born in 1975, the same year as him. Astonishingly, the tree experienced a life-changing event in 1985, aligning with Mark’s own journey. At age 10, he experienced a personal event that turned his world upside down. Similarly, after a decade of growth, a force blew this Sitka spruce to its side and changed the direction of growth. Both the tree and the artist experienced a turning point in 1985 that forever changed their paths.

Before creating his sculpture, Mark carefully treated the fallen timber. First, he skinned its bark to expose the raw wood and then ripped it in half. Ripping is a technique of cutting wood in line with the cells. Afterward, he burnt it to preserve the wood from rotting, and then stood it up! The sculpture reached about 36 feet long and about 30 feet high into the landscape of Connemara.