Leaf & Lore
21 October – 19 November 2022
Leaf & Lore is a Solo Exhibition by Henry Lee.
Trees have been honored and accorded the highest respect by different civilizations all over the world through the ages. They are ascribed with sacred meaning and immortalized in all aspects of culture across different civilizations, including ancient lore, religion and beliefs, song and art, myths and customs, and rituals and practices. People have sought to divine meaning regarding existence through the mythology of plants and trees, explaining the origins and workings of the world through these universal symbols.
Among these, the world tree or cosmic tree is most likely the most ancient and universal human myth of all. Connecting the sacred and the profane, the world tree represents order and harmony of the cosmos and the center of the world (axis mundi) in many cultures and religions: the life-giving center and world pillar responsible for all creation and fertility (tree of life), and the abode of divinities and source of knowledge linking heaven and earth and the underworld (tree of knowledge).
Fundamental to the existence and continuation of life on Earth, trees provide food and shelter, medicine, paper, and other materials, and are crucial to the processes of carbon dioxide absorption, oxygen generation, nutrient recycling, soil stabilization, and flood prevention. With the advent of modern industrialization, trees have been relegated to being mere commodities, to be exploited for profit and development. The biosphere is in peril, as vast tracts of forests have been or are in imminent danger of being deforested, primarily for agriculture and urban development. Maintaining biodiversity and climate adaptation has become the central challenge of our time.
Leaf & Lore explores the myths and stories that revolve around specific tree species, including world trees while highlighting their struggles to survive the myriad encroachments of modern society. These emblematic renderings and arboreal remnants in charcoal serve as poignant reflections, reminders of the costs and sacrifices borne by the natural environment in the name of human progress, and highlight the importance and urgency of finding ways to harmonize with nature.
