Joseph Beuys was a German performance artist, art theorist, and a pedagogue. While working at a university, Joseph was expelled since he insisted that art is for everyone thus his class should be opened to everyone. This story about him caught my attention and while researching him and his life, I came across this project called 7000 oaks: city forestation instead of city administration.
The project 7000 oaks was literally planting 7000 oak trees in the city of Kassel, Germany. Since Joseph wanted the project to be an art, as well as being an environmental project, he accompanied each tree with a basalt stone. Since the project was large scale and used up a huge amount of land in the city, it met with some controversies. For example, funding was very tough, some people thought the project is a “parking lot destroyer” and a motorcyclist bumped into one of the basalt stones which lead to his death.
However, as time passed by, his work received more appreciation. Since Joseph wanted to create an art work where time plays an important role, as oak trees grow it not only is visually beautiful but is constantly throwing message at its viewers. It raises awareness of how rapid development could compromise environment and for us to repair the damage, much time is needed.
The project 7000 oaks also brings an interesting question of defining art. The project as a whole is categorized under land art, but from what part of the project should it be considered art? Should the planning and planting trees be part of the art? Also since the trees, unless cut down, will be there for a long time, when is the project actually over?