Baumscheibe / Tree Slice

“Baumscheibe” by Ute Reeh, installed in 2003, was an invitation to visitors to bring their body and perception in direct contact with the artwork, its surroundings, and nature. Lying on the large, gently curved plane of the sculpture – easily accessible through the recessed third – their gaze wandered up along the trunk to the intricate branches of the old tree. The sculpture used to encircle the trunk of an oak tree until its restoration in 2022, when it was installed at some distance from that tree for safety reasons. A young tree, whose growing process can now be followed, was planted at the centre of “Baumscheibe.” While this inevitably shifted the focus somewhat away from the aspect of contemplating the tree, it brought to the fore the sculptural character of “Baumscheibe.” With its gaudy flesh colouring, the slice itself is reminiscent of some kind of plant, perhaps a polypore. The contemplation of the sky and clouds, too, makes the connection to its surroundings and the environment perceptible.