My work is inspired by site-specific environments, it is a direct response to an environment I know. This series is based on my neighbour’s linden tree that grew on the street outside her house. Late last year it was selected for felling after one half of the tree died. The trees in this town as in many other places are subjected to a challenging life. In this case some of the major roots were removed because their growth was lifting the road surface, it suffered drought and flooding rains, pollution, traffic and an underground gas leak. Considering what had happened it was doing remarkably well to have survived at all.
One day a man stepped out of his car, applied a cross in pink neon spray paint and several months later it was destroyed. The incredible pinkness of the spray paint made this tree stand out. Within my drawings I wanted to keep that strength and somewhat aggressive nature in such a seemingly gentle colour. This is a statement about vanishing trees and their neglected or overlooked role in our urban ecosystems. It is a plea to look up, to embrace their value and it is a hymn to a disappearing feature. It is also a tree that inspired neighbourliness-I planted a garden for insects at its base. I have named this series for my neighbour.
