Trees, Trees
Since early July 2021, the Power Station of Art in Shanghai showcased the “Trees, Trees” art exhibition sponsored by the Cartier Foundation. It showed the organizer and its collaborators’ huge effort to use art as a medium to bring people from all over the world together to raise people’s awareness to respect and protect the lives of trees that are crucial to the future of every living organism. The exhibition showcased works on the subject done by over 30 artists, botanists, philosophers, scientists, etc. This brought about a tasteful and fascinating visual tour that is not only stimulating to the eyes, but also to the mind. The location of the museum was previously a real fire power station, which makes it all the more meaningful and fascinating.
I went to the “Trees, Trees” exhibition in early August with much anticipation. I was awed by the magnificent space as soon as I entered the exhibition arena: the ceilings were over two stories high, matching a space that is a few thousand square meters big. There was a section hosting paintings; a section showcasing a real big tree and some plant and animal fossils; a section with multi-media display showing results of deforestation in the last 30 years and the devastating impact on climate changes; a section demonstrating the current collaborative efforts done by architects and city governments to increase the number of trees in cities by installing trees (not just plants) in the balconies of new buildings and compounds; and another section displaying photos and videos of individuals’ efforts made on conserving trees. The overall message was clear: trees existed long before humans and are crucial to our own survival; we should stop taking down trees and start growing them.
While viewing the “Tree. Trees” exhibition, I couldn’t help but saw the reminiscence of my own paintings of trees, which I spent about eight years (2012-2019) focusing on. It was a period when I found deeper roots in my faith that I became deeply touched by the meaning behind “trees of life” in the Book of Revelation. If we allow ourselves to “walk with trees” in our life journey, it could be a truly growing, humbling, fascinating, and rewarding experience.
Photos by Irene Chang Studio