Luke Jerram, whose art installations have traveled the world, is philosophical about his latest project bearing fruit beyond his time on earth.
Known for his Street piano project “Play for me, I’m yours” and him Artwork from the Museum of the Moon – a seven-metre diameter moon sculpture featuring detailed NASA images of the lunar surface – Jerram is currently working on Echo Wood, a living, breathing installation made from native British trees.
Planted this winter in the Chew Valley in Somerset in collaboration with the charity Avon Needs Trees, the 365 trees – apple, hawthorn and oak – will gradually grow into a huge structure, 110 meters wide, and will take a century to fully emerge, long after Jerram has passed on.
“In 50 to 100 years I won’t be here,” says Jerram, 50, next to a scale model of the project in his Bristol studio. “I'm at the point in my career where I'm starting to look forward instead of looking back.
“I'm 50, maybe it's a midlife crisis. I have about 900 exhibitions now. 40 countries around the world, and art in about 80 museums. So you suddenly start thinking about outdated projects and the fact that I can't maintain that level of energy.
“I suppose there’s something very satisfying about projecting yourself into the future, and it’s quite exciting.”
The living sculpture will form part of Lower Chew Forest, which at 422 acres and 100,000 trees will be one of the largest new woodlands in the world. England when completed.
Blooming at different times of the year, paths and paths will be created to guide visitors to Echo Wood on a journey through the forest to a central circular gathering place formed from 12 English oak trees.
As with many of his projects, Jerram wants this central space to foster creativity.
“It will become an event space. It could be used for weddings or educational events, music, poetry, etc.,” he says.
Jerram's other works, which often address themes of nature and the climate emergency, include: “Gaia”, a seven-metre diameter sculpture of the Earth created using NASA imagery; Helios, a solar sculpture that uses detailed images of the Sun to recreate its surface; and “Tipping Point,” a wildfire simulation that combines smoke, light and sound.
Echo Wood is perhaps the closest reflection of these themes, a symbol of the fight against climate change.
“It's a way to physically do something with it. Use creativity to inspire the general public and also help use the trees to raise some money and create a legacy,” says Jerram. “What art can do is convey messages in another language, which can then reach people in a slightly different way.
“I often collaborate with scientists as well as charities to share my ideas.”
Despite on the lack of progress in overcoming the climate crisisJerram says he's “always hopeful” despite finding “tipping points” scary.
“There’s a wonderful comic illustration of a doctor sitting in front of him on a chair with a slightly sick-looking Earth,” says Jerram. “The Earth says, 'I'm afraid we have a serious infection among humans now.' The Doctor says, 'Don't worry, it will pass soon.'
“We’re just the latest invasive species.”
Wood from his latest work will eventually be harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner and used for educational and creative projects, and the trees will then be replanted to continue the life cycle.
“I love the idea of what you can do with wood—turning oak into play equipment for inner-city schools, or creating boats or musical instruments for inner-city children,” says Jerram.
Businesses and individuals will be able to sponsor individual trees to raise money for Avon Needs Trees, which has a number of tree planting projects across the region.
“Situated in the heart of a new forest, Echo Wood is a symbol of optimism for us and future generations that with a little thought, creativity and determination we can tackle the climate and nature crises we face,” says Dave Wood, chief executive of Avon Needs Trees. “Not quite a message in a bottle, but a message in wood, water and sunlight.”
“We want as many people as possible to think about creative ways to tackle the climate and nature crises we face. By working with Luke, we can reach a whole new group of people who might not otherwise travel into the countryside to see the work we are doing to increase tree cover in a heavily deforested part of the country.”
