How to befriend a tree

This project is inspired by the biological research connected to the ability of trees to communicate through fungal network – mycelia, or so called Wood Wide Web.

Through this network, trees can share information about upcoming danger and share nutrients with each other. Those studies are fascinating and further research might totally change our understanding of the trees, their potential and role they are playing in our life.

I would like to connect this scientific approach with the Taoist teaching about befriending a tree and communicating with it through meditation.

I think those studies correlate in a very interesting way, one is about trees possessing ability to share information with each other and other about their ability to communicate with human beings. In our age of global networking, I think the opportunity of networking with the oldest beings on earth should not be missed.

The project consists of series of paintings dedicated to different tree species, their role in mythology and in our everyday life. Trees always played very important symbolic role in rituals and general understanding of the world in all the cultures. Tree of knowledge, of good and evil, Yygdrasil, Jian Mu – all those mythological, archetypal trees poses deep meaning and strongly affect our subconscious selves and in a way eradicate our differences.

Some of works are portraits of famous trees, like the tree of Tenere - the loneliest tree on earth and Methuselah - a 5000 years old pine, some depict legends and myths and in some cases my personal perception of the impact trees have on me.

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alaleresteux@gmail.com