Spirit of the Forest: the interconnectedness of all life

In 2022 Artist Project Earth commissioned Tetiana Hurn, an artist fleeing the war in Ukraine to create the piece titled Spirit of the Forest. In her own words:

The story of this painting is amazing, it was painted open air, literally in the woods of North Berwick town. 

The tree branches, moved by the strength of Scottish winds, along with random sun glare were playing wild on the canvas. Variety of insects and plant leaves took part in the painting process.

Also my son, Nikolai's little feet (who was born in South Africa, grew in Ukraine and now living with me in Scotland) stepped into the scene of the great Amazonian forest roots. This subtle yet profound addition symbolizes the interconnectedness of humanity within the grand cycle of life. It serves as a poignant reminder of the impact, positive or negative, significant or minute, powerful or feeble, that our actions on one side of the world can have on the other.

Safety and danger always dance together in the rhythm of the forest, heart beating presented by the bunch of intertwined roots in the center. The roots are alive and like any living beings on Earth are searching for water which is represented by the blue circle around the heart of roots. Water is nurturing, water is calming and gently transforming the beat and redirecting the stream of evolution.

I also added a giant water lily with very neatly structured roots to show a diversity of nature organization. All kinds of organisms are important to exist, to grow and eventually to dissolve: from the very chaotic to the most structured.

Whether facing the dangers of the Amazonian rainforest, seeking refuge beneath Ukrainian oaks, enduring the harshness of the Siberian taiga, or strolling through the safety of British woods, let us deeply listen to this harmonious melody that binds us all. In doing so, we find ourselves in harmony with the intricate web of life, resonating with the essence of the natural world.