Senchuk has invented products such as an early warning system to warn swimmers on beaches when rip-currents develop. He was introduced to concrete as an artistic medium in 2005 when he was asked to build a “living tree” that could irrigate plants hung on the limbs. He recreated this project at the show. A timer automatically meters the right amount of water for each plant.
Starting with a steel armature made with more than 400 welds and a “scratch coat” of concrete to form the rough shape of the tree, Senchuk applied thin overlays to create bark texture. He employed several techniques to create a good bark effect and then applied multiple colors to achieve a realistic appearance. Adding ferns made the tree look real.
