Tree
A stunning new artwork is unveiled
The 200-year-old oak tree in Longleat Estate before its transformation into the Museum artwork. © Tania Kovats
Opens on 19 March 2009
Look up at the ceiling of the mezzanine gallery behind the Central Hall and wonder at the magnificent artwork called TREE.
TREE is a wafer-thin section of an entire 200-year-old oak tree, including the roots, trunk and branches, inlaid into the gallery ceiling.
The artwork is inspired by Charles Darwin’s iconic tree of life diagram. This was the first sketch Darwin drew to try to explain his ideas of evolution and it was written in a notebook called ‘red transmutation notebook B’.
Tania Kovats' TREE was selected from 9 other shortlisted artists in the Darwin's Canopy project in 2008. The artwork was commissioned to celebrate Darwin's bicentenary in 2009.
Watch this space for more details about the artwork and a film about Tania Kovats and the installation process.
Entrance to the gallery is free.
