Replanting History
Material: 16 Swamp White Oaks, 16 Eastern White Pines, sun, soil, mulch,
water, blind-spot mirrors, one artist, two curators, and one philosopher.
Year: 2007-2041
The trees are from different parts of the Tree Museum site. I have picked two species for this project, Swamp White Oak and Eastern White Pine. On one side I have planted oaks and pine on the other. The oak has a long and illustrious history from Celtic mythology to contemporary art and is one of the longest lived trees (up to 300 years). The oak tree is referred to in the Joseph Beuys’s Oak tree project, where he also considers/questions the relationship of Artist and community, human beings and nature, the country side and the central city. The Eastern White Pine played and continues to play an important role in Canadian lumbering history, (Builders of sailing ships once sought the tall, straight white pine for masts) and today is still one of the most valuable timber species of native trees. An interesting point is that these two species often grow up together, and seem to have complementary survival techniques. The two species in this work look like they are having a conversation with each other.
During the transplanting process, I gave them the best soil, plenty of water, professional mulch, and a suitable environment. However, they still may be hurt, no matter how much care I take. In the process of removing, transplanting, feeding, petting those trees, I trace my family memory back. My personal history changed when my family was removed from Mainland China to Hong Kong, same as these trees. The life of the tree and me seems coincidently to come together, however, who/which will last being here? Nature or human? Tree or Art?
The top view of 34 baby trees.
Viewers kneel down to the nature and history when they check the work.