Plants make the world; they literally create soil, shape landscapes, and regulate the climate to some extent. They provide the production of oxygen, fuel, food, building materials, and shelter and form ecologies where all kinds of species come together and enter into symbioses. The exhibition A Tree showcases research and works where artists explore the relationship between people and trees and ways in which we can relate more closely to their time span. To what extent is anthropomorphism a way to strengthen the connection between humans and trees or an anthropocentric danger that makes it impossible to acquire objective knowledge?

A Tree is about vegetal agency, plant knowledge, and the interaction between plants and people, with a specific focus on trees. Forester and bestseller Peter Wohlleben says people often misunderstand trees, mainly because they are so slow. To put this into perspective, the concept of tree time is used. This concept refers to the experience of time that trees relate to. Some tree species, such as pines and Japanese cypress trees, can live up to 5,000-10,000 years.

Part of the climate disruption problem we face stems from people's inability to think and plan far ahead. Modern individualism is another part of this problem, in which the relationship to earlier and future generations and ancestors is lost. Several indigenous peoples avoid this by considering the seven generations before them and the seven generations to follow when making decisions. Trees can be a particularly valuable source of inspiration for thinking further in time and taking into account a complex ecology.

Artists: Sanne Vaassen, Gerbrand Burger, Hira Nabi, Manjot Kaur, Ingela Ihrman, Goldin+Senneby, Alice Ladenburg, Roderick Hietbrink.

Image: Manjot Kaur - The Portrait of a Tree in a Jharokha