Weeping Willow Tree

Peace is every step
ThÃƒÂch NhÃ¡ÂºÂ¥t HÃ¡ÂºÂ¡nh

Clemens Wilhelm is a Berlin based artist who spent a lot of time working in both Britain and other countries around Europe. He joined us in the winter of 2018/19 in the run up to Brexit when Britain intends to leave the European Union.

The withdrawal of the UK from the EU – colloquially called Brexit – has created a lot of division between people, families and friends. Young and old, incomer and native, England and Scotland. Our question was: How can we bring together Euro-files and -sceptics around the table and move on?

First on 29th March and then 31st October we planned to plant a Weeping Willow to mark the historic day. Many of us were sad and fear losing friends, travel opportunities and income. Others looked forward to the change and hoped for prosperity and unity in a different way. With the tree – a sign for both hope and sorrow – we wanted to mark the day, to move on and bring people together once again. In collaboration with the community of Huntly, local authorities, tree and other specialists we identified the right location for this tree along the river Deveron. A round bench has been produced in collaboration with local joiner David Whitehead. The tree was finally planted in the centre of this bench on the historic day of 31st January 2020.

The tree has since been uprooted and replanted several times. In February 2021, a premiere of Clemens Wilhelm Jan Martinec's film The Brexit Tree was organised in partnership with The Alchemy Film and Arts.