Trees seem to surround our lives, with infinite vitality, but as our demand for land development and timber increases, they naturally face various threats to survival. This summer, the Heritage Department of Tai Kwun launched a large-scale exhibition themed around trees, “Breathing with Trees,” revealing the interdependent relationship between trees and humans.
“Forest Breath” highlights the survival disadvantages that human overconsumption and disregard for consequences bring to trees, and explores significant future dangers for trees such as pollution, deforestation, logging, urban development, and climate change. The exhibition reshapes the important role trees play in our daily lives, exploring cutting-edge ways to protect, conserve, and plant trees, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the beauty of trees.
“Forest Breath” expands the field of cultural heritage through the works of several contemporary artists, alongside literature and research materials, allowing the audience to find a direction to navigate between fear and hope in the exchange between reality and imagination.
Artist Zheng Bo sketches the ten trees inside Tai Kwun, silently interacting and experiencing them, starting from sunrise at 5:40 am until sunset at 7:10 pm, drawing portraits of each one. The exhibition displays ten selected artworks created throughout the day in chronological order.
Liu Zhicong exhibited the photography of the Green Forest in the form of a lightbox, capturing the ruins in nature, witnessing the traces of past time and life, vividly showcasing the regenerative power of nature.
The largest work, the virtual reality installation “Treehugger” created by the London-based physical art group “Marshmallow Laser Feast,” brings the awe-inspiring giant sequoias to life in VR form, connecting people with nature and encouraging us to focus on the future of these natural giants.
Wu Chia-chun combines the concept of upgrading and rebuilding with fallen tree branches collected after natural disasters such as typhoons to create a series of sculptures. He believes that the iron shovel is an important planting tool because it often comes into direct contact with the soil when planting trees. By connecting familiar objects, our daily experiences, and fallen trees together, this artwork becomes a symbol of rebirth, also attempting to deepen our relationship with these old tree friends.
Wong Ting Fung brings video and research result information graphics “Hong Kong Stone Wall Trees: The Legacy of Vertical Urban Forestry”, which outlines the development timeline of stone wall trees in Hong Kong since the colonial period, and seeks to address the current situation through a more comprehensive interpretation to provide a range of design options for all stakeholders to consider for our future urban landscape.
Interested in learning about tree conservation work, or delving into the efforts of artists to inherit these material cultural heritage, highly recommend everyone to come and visit!
Summer Exhibition: “Forest Breath”
Date: From now until September 4th
Time: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: Duplex Exhibition Room, Block 01, Tai Kwun
Image source and learn more: Tai Kwun Heritage and Arts Centre
