ANDREA ELERA
Tree Thoughts (on Art and Labour)
Performance and installation
Location:
Velp, Rheden
Date:
2021
Role:
Visual artist
Also Shown At:
Start! Collective Exhibition - IJFactor, Amsterdam (2022)
Art and Performance Research Practice - Neverneverland, Amsterdam (2022)
Tree Thoughts is a series of reflections that explores my first encounter with the Veluwe Forest, where I lived and worked for a year. This experience marked the first time I had lived far away from my city for such an extended period. The most striking aspect of this time was experiencing the change of seasons and understanding time in a way that was different from what I was used to on the desert coast. In the Veluwe, I noticed how the trees, flowers, mushrooms, and many other organisms—through their color changes, fallings, and sprouts—set the rhythm for months and years.
Although I still have much to learn about the forest and its intricate processes, I find that this environment is increasingly familiar to me. Walking through it, inhaling the scents, and listening to its sounds every day brings a sense of connection. It reminds me of my experiences by the ocean, where I feel like a small part of an overwhelming immensity.
This ongoing research is commissioned by Buitenplaats Beekhuizen to commemorate five years of presence in the Veluwe Forest.