OLana Light

The Birch Tree Family 

Live Performance, Film, Installation, Photography 

CAS Emerging Sculptors Development Award

2024 - ongoing

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The Birch Tree Family project is a dynamic endeavour that initially began as a site-specific installation, live performances, and film nurtured under the CAS Emerging Sculptors Development Award. As it continues to evolve, I envision expanding the project by crafting three additional wearable sculptures and incorporating a series of Birch tree living sculpture performances in public spaces in 2025/26. This project explores the theme of transformation and the deep bond between women, nature, and the environment, symbolized by the birch tree's renewal and transformative potential. My performances as a Birch tree living sculpture signify a return to nature, evoking both whimsical joy and a reminder of our interconnectedness with the environment. This underscores the necessity for radical, sustainable change and fosters a deeper understanding of our relationship with the environment.   

 

Crafted specifically for the unique setting of Sir Harold Hillier Garden, this project explores the profound connection between women, nature, and the environment. Women, traditionally seen as primary caregivers, share a deep affinity with nature, symbolizing growth, fertility, and femininity. The birch tree, a central symbol, represents renewal and the cyclical nature of life, mirroring the vulnerability and transformative potential of both women and trees.

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Transforming into meticulously crafted Birch tree living sculptures, I traverse urban landscapes, parks, and gardens during my performances. My journey symbolizes a return to nature, reconnecting with my roots and experiencing harmony with the forest. Amidst the trees, I reunite with my Birch Tree Family, engaging in a profound communion with nature.

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These human walking trees exude a whimsical charm, evoking childhood joy and laughter, yet they also serve as camouflage, blending seamlessly into nature's embrace. This duality highlights the complex relationship between humans and their environment, underscoring our interconnectedness and the fragility of our existence.

 

In both urban and natural settings, the vulnerability of trees and humanity remains evident, serving as a reminder of our interdependence with nature and the need for preservation.

 

The Birch Tree Family, comprising an site-specific installation, live performances, and film, developed under the CAS Emerging Sculptors Development Award, received funding from Friends of the Garden, with additional support from Roche Court Educational Trust and Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. The installation of The Birch Tree Family was showcased as a site-specific exhibit at Sir Harold Hillier Garden from February to April 2024.