Tate Modern: Energy and Process Review

 

 

The exhibition Energy and Process uses a divers range of unorthodox sculpting materials; Arte Povera describes the generation of Italian Artists using 'Poor Materials' (no Author, 1980-2). Some of the materials were very industrial but Giuseppe Penone's Trees of 12 Metres uses the organic material of Timber. With this piece he experiments with energy as his tree sculptures are upturned. Penones crafted the tree by carefully chiselling, following the knots and rings in the timber blocks, to recreate a younger tree.

When first viewing this piece I was initially struck with confusion of this gravity defying tree, yet also intrigued, upon closer inspection the viewer realises the tree is not real but has been expertly carved out of wood. Penone really seems to explore the relationship between industry and nature; questions the choice of materials for industrial materials and the environmental impacts. Whilst manufacturers aggressively shape the timber into crude blocks, Penone returns dignity to the tree through intimate, delicate carving and polishing. The reverse process of making a tree from a plank is an intriguing concept. I was also fascinated by the idea of making a tree from a tree.

I also considered the theme of time in this piece. The huge timber tree, with many rings, taking years to have grown, then destroyed to manufacture planks, then the time consuming process of Penone's carving. The cyclic pattern of tree to plank and then back to tree reflects the cyclic patterns in nature and all life. The visible rings and Penones carving exposes a younger version of the tree, so his work seems to convey the lifetime of the trees.

Overall an intriguing thought-provoking sculpture, using unconventional methods and materials to effectively convey a powerful concept.

 

 

 

Sketches of Giuseppe Penone's 'Trees of 12 Metres'