Web of fabulous grass, sucrose series, Niamh Cunningham 2018
Memory Palace of Tree Stories:
In October 2019 after reading the Pulitzer prize winning book ‘The OverStory’ by Richard Powers I started my plans for the socio-eco art practice ‘The Memory Palace of Trees’. It began in January 2020 at a time when the pandemic was just about to reveal itself as the most urgent global emergency of our lifetime. The pandemic is very much part of our ecological crisis and how we ‘utilize’ the natural world. Throughout a most turbulent year, people worldwide have reappraised their relationship and dependance on the natural world. Many have turned to nature to claim a space of sanctity and sanity and some people have shared their stories with us in the Memory Palace of Tree Stories.
Memory Palace of Tree Stories is a socio- ecological art practice which invites your participation to tell a story or give some kind of information about trees. It is a social enquiry of how to live better with the planet and with people and other living beings . You are cordially invited to share your story of a tree or trees in the form of a one minute video. I would love to hear from you .
The most recent Stories are in the format of a one minute videos.
Video 1： Empty Tendrils by Yvette Stride
Video 2：Pomegranate Tree by Han Chao
Video 3：Trees are Like Humans by Jenny Hong
Video 4：Old Ash A real survivor by Gillian Cussen
Video 5：Tree Rings of Life by Wang Ligeng
Video 6：A very Weird Elf by Zhu Jinghua
Video 7：Old Crabapple of Wenhua Dian by Matthew Hu
Video 8: Standing Fast by Joseph Stewart
Video 9: Feeling Good – Nam’s Tree Song
Video 10： ForestBreath by Niamh Cunningham
Video 11 : Protective Peach Tree , by Ayse Emel Gümüs
Video 12 : Bee Tree – part 1 Sycamore by Mick Verspuij
Video 13: Winter Apples – John Mac Kenna
Video 14: Ancient Yew Trees – Sonia Gibbons
Video 15: Once I counted Birds – Cathy Fitzgearld
Palace Sucrose Series 83 x 120 cm print on Aluminium Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 15)
Most of these are personal stories. Submissions came from a range of different people in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia including a children’s writer, poets, dendrologists, artists, a dancer, a forester, an ant forest app user, photographers, academics and more.
See further down this page for these links.
The Second Beech Niamh Cunningham 倪芙瑞莲2020 (week 17 of the Memory Palace of Trees)
Memory Palace of Tree Stories began in January 2020. Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
Ice Willow , Sucrose 8.7.2020 Print on Aluminium , Niamh Cunningham -Kosimas Willow Story
Memory Palace of Tree Stories began in January 2020. Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
- WEEK 2: WHY TREES WHISPER
- WEEK 3: THE KING HAS DONKEY’S EARS
- WEEK 4: WHY DO TRAFFIC POLICE LIKE TREES?
- WEEK 5: THE HEADACHE TREE
- WEEK 6: ON THE STROLL TO WORK
- WEEK 7: THE ANCIENT GINKGO TO WUHAN NO 5 HOSPITAL
- WEEK 8: THE TREE IN YOUR BACKYARD
- WEEK 9: OF TREES AND ME
- WEEK 10: FROZEN FRUIT
- WEEK 11: OF BAMBOO AND BIRDS
- WEEK 12: PARK TREE
- WEEK 13: TREES CAN COMMUNICATE
- WEEK 14: ELVES OF THE PLATEAU AND CORRIDOR FORESTS
- WEEK 15: ROOTS OF RECOVERY
- WEEK 16: SWAN GOOSE FOREST
- WEEK 17: THE BEECH TREE AND THE ACCIDENTAL ACADEMIC
- WEEK 18: GINKGO SOLITARY AND UNIQUE
- WEEK 19: THE TREE THAT OWNS ITSELF
- WEEK 20: BLUED TREES SYMPHONY
- WEEK 21: LIGUSTRUM LEAVES
- JUNE 2020: TREE CLIMBER
- JULY 2020: EMOJI TREES
- AUGUST 2020: THE HAWTHORNE TREE
- SEPTEMBER 2020: KOSIMA’S CORKSCREW WILLOW
- OCTOBER 2020: KAMPONG COCONUTS
- NOVEMBER 2020: DANCES WITH TREES
- DECEMBER 2020: ANT FOREST -PUSHING BACK THE DESERT
Chestnut – Park Tree Sucrose Series original Sucrose 50 x 50 cm Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 12)
Open Call for your tree story on video
Memory Palace of Trees will continue in 2021. This year the submissions will be in video format. If you have a story you can tell in less than a minute (less than 60 seconds), please find your favorite tree sit under it and video yourself on your phone telling the story. I can help with the editing and add the English or Chinese subtitles. Please ensure the sound quality of your recording is clear. If you are in Beijing I can come and video you if you wish. Please ask if you have any questions about this.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Please email me at niamh@niamhcunningham.com
Jinan Tree Song Sucrose Series, print on aluminium 158 x 120cm Niamh Cunningham 2020
Here is a one minute video clip for the November 2020 tree story .
Ladybird of DongXiaokou (6 min 40 secs) video Niamh Cunningham 2020 Dancer: Zhang Yi , Music Credit: Ciorras
I want to say a huge THANK YOU to ALL contributors and I will be in contact soon to thank each of you properly. Your stories will act as important stations (or installations) in the Memory Palace of Trees and will be a part of larger future artworks