Rob and Nick Carter’s "Bronze Oak Grove” at Berkeley Square Mayfair, London is a welcoming, inclusive addition to the gardens this summer — an artwork that invites the visitors to walk around, sit on, interact with, creating a place to relax, think, and play. Visitors are actively encouraged to engage with the work to bring it alive and participate in the creative process.For a long time now, the Carters have been inspired by the work of Jacob de Gheyn II (1565–1629), a draughtsman, painter, and engraver who was a contemporary of Rembrandt during the Dutch golden age. The work by the artist marks the transition from late 16th-century Mannerism to the more naturalistic style of the early 17th century and he was recognized as a giant in his time, though little known today. The Carters’ "Bronze Oak Grove” features nine identical tree stumps, fabricated in bronze, which take as their starting point De Gheyn’s botanical drawing from 1600.The oak tree has been held in high esteem and is considered the most venerated tree in European culture. "Dense forests of oak once covered most of Northern Europe and in those days the oak was held most sacred. Oak groves were used as pagan places of worship and the oak, used in a combination of rituals with certain spells, was considered a sure charm against witchery. People frequented the oak for its curative powers — its wood was used for building, its branches for fuel, its acorns for food, and its leaves to promote healing. Famed for its endurance and longevity, it is synonymous with strength and steadfastness,” said the artists.“Bronze Oak Grove,” on view through January 7, 2019, emphasizes the strong association between human civilizations and oaks, and creates a contemporary space for gathering and dialogue.
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