The tree houses in the Beguinage garden are poetic sculptures that explore the boundaries between art, architecture and nature. They are a surprising presence: the childlike, playful and adventurous spirit of a treehouse. Especially, in the spiritual, quiet and serious context of the Beguinage. Children playing in the trees are not easily expected. And, this apparent dichotomy is exactly why the wooden constructions become an invitation to dream. High up in the trees, they seem like charming watchers, as though protectors of the residents and visitors. Even more, the tree houses were also little places of retreat, if only in the imagination. The unreachable sculptures make one long for a private, peaceful place all to oneself.
This is not the first time that Tadashi Kawamata is exhibiting the tree houses. He has installed similar wooden structures in other cities, including New York, Paris and Berlin.
Tadashi Kawamata
The work of Tadashi Kawamata (b. 1953, Hokkaido, JP) is much admired in Europe and the rest of the world. The artist focuses on production processes and social and historical aspects of art. Kawamata’s work transcends the purely artistic context and extends into the fields of architecture, urban planning, history, sociology, everyday communication and even medical care.