An outdoor participatory performance and on-site installation.
Duration: 20mins
A collaboration between Bettina Fung and Catherine Harrington, created in London Fields as part of London Festival of Architecture on 26 June 2021.
This work was inspired by the systems that trees use to communicate, share resources and create mutual protection and care. The two artists believe much could be learned from trees in this post-Covid world.
Action: The audience first gathered at a designated meeting point where they were handed colourful braided ropes made of discarded fabric materials. They were then led to the performance area where two plane trees stood. They were seated in a semi-circle around the trees with the ropes lying between each of them acting as a social distancing measure as well as outlining the “stage”. The performance involved the artists weaving a web between the two trees with braided ropes, where their actions embodied the trees’ underground landscape of communication. Once the artists finished creating the structure, audience were invited to add their ropes to it. The audience were also gifted a unique handmade card with further resources about how trees communicate.
Photography by Andre LL Media (except for first image by Taey Iohe)