Curated by Angela Lennon at Peacock Visual Arts in Aberdeen Scotland With Plein Air: The Ethical Aesthetic Impulse, Goto and Collins have worked with a team of scientists, technologists and musicians to construct a box easel for the 21st Century. Like their predecessors, these artists seek an authentic experience ”in nature‟. Where Millet extended the idea of landscape to peasants working in the fields and the impressionists examined the phenomenological exchange between light and material; Goto extends an interest and the intent to seek empathic exchange with the trees themselves.
In this first exhibition of the experimental work, the artists explore specific trees in different public places between the Don River and the Dee River in Aberdeen. The work results in “true‟ scientific data that tells us about the respiration of trees. The work also results in a musical output which is embedded in a context of feelings and freedom but oddly connected to the life force, which is, at the same time, the tree and me. There is a specific question driving the work:
“Is it possible to create change if we understand that life is interdependent and interrelated with nature in our environments?” – Reiko Goto
The Sounds of the Trees
In this first exhibition, we use simple synthesized voices, such as the piano, as its scale is clearly legible. (See the 2008 Headlands residency for other sound experiments.) This decision informs the next step of correlation and calibration of the the music interface, which demands some time with both the scientist and the musicians. In autumn 2010, we began experiments to identify a more authentic voice for the tree; followed again by variations of that voice which we hope to modulate on a species by species basis. These sounds are developed from the measurements of CO2 differential in a tree leaf. In comparison to atmospheric conditions, the leaf reduces the amount of CO2 when it is active.
The Deeside Way
and a silver birch tree
22 June 2010, 2:30PM
The Old Deeside Railway Line between King George VI Bridge and Peterculter has been opened as a trail called the Deeside Way since 2006. It is part of the City’s Green Transport Network and provids a greenway to the city for walking and cycling. Naturally established vegetation includes both exotic and native species. Downy birch (Betula pubescens) and silver birch (Betula pendula) are fast-growing pioneer trees. These indigenous trees contribute significant aesthetic elements and structures on the trail that goes through residential areas and large open farm land.
A brisk and sunny day, windy.
1 minute excerpt of a 13 minute sound file.
Tree voice: piano
Denburn and a cherry tree
29 June 2010, 10:30 AM
Denburn is a little stream that flows from the lower Kingswell, the Woodend Hospital area, Rubislaw and Queens Terrace Gardens, Gilcomoston and next to the Union Terrace Gardens. It has been channelized since 1648. Following the stream from the lower steam to upper stream is quite interesting. Some places are open and wooded and other places are in a culvert. The sound of water creates a tranquil quality in the area. Stonefly larvae, a clean water indicator, inhabit the stream. A cherry tree next to the burn is located between the end of Albert Lane and Osborn Place.
A bright sunny day
1 minute excerpt of a 7 minute sound file.
Tree voice: piano
Seaton Park and a maple tree
29 June 2010, 10:30 AM
Seaton Park was established in 1947. The park is connected to the communities of University of Aberdeen, old Aberdeen, Tillydrone, Woodaide and Middlefield. A maple we have chosen for Plein Air is located right next to the Don River that flows slow and contains silt and dissolved minerals (Marren 1982, pp. 75-84). The water quality has been affected by paper mill and upper agricultural land. There is a trail along the river that leads to the mouth of the Don estuary where many seals often stay, both in the river and on the island.
A bright sunny day
1 minute excerpt of a 7 minute sound file.
Tree voice: piano
Duthie Park and a lime tree
28 June 2010, 9:00 AM
Duthie park was a gift from Lady Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston in 1881. It comprises 44 acres (180,000 m2) of land. It is located on the lower North bank of the Dee River. It is also the entrance of the Deeside Way. The mild elevation of the park, wide open lawn and the noted Winter Gardens offer diverse recreational activities for families and other visitors. The Victorian stand provides an elegant character in the large open grass area. “Lime became widely planted in Scotland from the early eighteen century…Avenues of lime quickly became de rigueur for the discerning landowner, especially during the Victorian era” (Rodger, Stokes and Ogilvie 2003, p.84.)
A bright sunny day
1 minute excerpt of a 24 minute sound file.
Tree voice: piano
St Nicholas Kirk and an elm tree
27 June 2010, 8:00 AM
The history of St. Nicholas Kirk has been established in since the early 12th century. The church has gone through many changes. The current building, built between the 18th and 19th century stands on the 15th century building structure. This historical landmark is one of the few places that hold old trees, including elm trees, in the middle of the city. This kind of landmark, a built and natural environment, can be important for tracing how people related to natural the environment in the past.
A bright sunny morning
1 minute excerpt of a 23 minute sound file.
Tree voice: piano
Robert Gordon University and an elm tree
27 June 2010, 11:45 AM
RGU Garthdee Campus was founded in 1885. It is located next to the Dee River. The campus open spaces are managed for the school, neighbourhood and visitors. A trail on the campus provides a right of way for the public. There are riparian rights from 10m to 150m back from the river bank. These areas are left for faunas: river otters, foxes, rabbits, Roe deer, Sika deer, squirrels, birds and insects. Collins and Goto chose a native elm tree on the edge of the river cliff.
A sunny day, leaf dappled light.
1 minute excerpt of a 24 minute sound file.
Tree voice: piano
Union Terrace Gardens and an elm tree
27 June 2010, 9:40 AM
Union Terrace Gardens are a hectare of wooded park located in the very heart of the city. It’s original name is Corby Heugh. Corby means crow and Heugh means low-lying meadow. It is a part of the lower Denburn catchments basin. It has been open as a public park since 1879. A part of the burn is in a culvert under the railway next to the park. There are two hundred year old native elm trees that survived Dutch elm disease. Previously three development plans have been presented. The most recent scheme was initiated by Sir Ian Woods encloses the valley as a rooftop garden to promote commercial economy (2009 – present), the second scheme was initiated by Peacock Visual Arts to build a new arts centre (1998 – 2008), and the third scheme was originally submitted by the city architects in 1997 to double the size of the gardens by decking over the road and railway line.
Bright sunny day.
1 minute excerpt of a 22 minute sound file.
Tree voice: piano
Exhibition Video
A Tree is a LIVING Thing from timothy collins on Vimeo.
Exhibition Catalogue
There is a long history of artists painting outdoors “en plein air‟ (in the open air) with a French box easel. In the mid 19th century there were two groups of painters: the Barbizon School, committed to realism and direct inspiration from nature, and the “Impressionists,‟ committed to a more open and experimental approach to painting, yet also seeking inspiration from nature in the form of light, movement and changes over time.
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