Creating the 'Conference of the Trees'
Creating the 'Conference of the Trees'
A behind-the-scenes look at Artist Es Devlin's temporary forest at the New York Times Climate Hub
CRAIG GIBSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES
From The New York Times Climate Hub
GLASGOW — Artist Es Devlin will bring audiences into a parallel conference through the immersive “Conference of the Trees” which will manifest as a temporary forest of 197 trees and plants representing the 197 countries that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The temporary forest will house keynote talks and events within the work and provide attendees space for reflection and creative thought on climate change.
CRAIG GIBSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES
Working in close collaboration with forest architect Phillip Jaffa, and landscape specialist Scotscape, Ms. Devlin explained the significance of her work and how it aims to resonate with Climate Hub audiences.
CRAIG GIBSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES
“The installation is inspired by Richard Powers’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Overstory, in which the trees are the lead protagonists while the humans form the subplot. I am interested in placing Climate Hub visitors within an environment of a parallel gathering of trees, as if the trees are bearing witness, listening, and observing the progress that the humans may or may not make during the program of talks and COP26 negotiations which many are describing as our species’ last chance to making the changes necessary to avert even more profound climate crisis.”
The species will be selected to thrive in the Scottish environment as part of a native public garden to be established in cooperation between SWG3 and The New York Times. The trees will be donated by The New York Times as part of the community legacy of the Climate Hub.
Layla Martin is a Space Theorist and Featured Expert at the intersection of climate, space and gender. Martin will provide coverage of COP26 and The New York Times Climate Hub from Glasgow.