Lima, Manuel. The Book of Trees – Visualizing Branches of Knowledge. Princeton Architectural Press, New York. 2014
Synopsis: In The Book of Trees, data viz expert Manuel Lima examines the more than eight hundred year history of the tree diagram, from its roots in the illuminated manuscripts of medieval monasteries to its current resurgence as an elegant means of visualization. Lima presents two hundred intricately detailed tree diagram illustrations on a remarkable variety of subjects—from some of the earliest known examples from ancient Mesopotamia to the manuscripts of medieval monasteries to contributions by leading contemporary designers. A timeline of capsule biographies on key figures in the development of the tree diagram rounds out this one-of-a-kind visual compendium.
Arboreal. A Macquarie University Exhibition. Curators Rhonda Davis & Andrew Simpson. Macquarie University Art Gallery. 26 October – 15 December 2011
Synopsis: “Rhonda and Andrew have created an exhibition that asks us to use the tree as a focus for reflecting on various themes, both historical and contemporary.” Artists exhibited: Effy Alexakis, Will Ashton, Margaret Benyon, Stephen Birch, Arthur Boyd, Iain Brew, Margaret Coen, Shay Docking, Fan Dongwang, Stevie Fieldsend, Louise Fowler-Smith, Michael Gillings, Roland Hemmert, Hans Heysen, Deborah Kelly, Rosemary Laing, Janet Laurence, Fiona Lowry, Alexander McKenzie, Barayura Munuggurr & Ruark Lewis, Arthur Murch, Ron Oldfield, Axel Poignant, Alexander Seton, Kate Shaw, Garry Shead, Patrick Shirvington, Jon Rhodes, William Robinson, Peter Solness, Chris Tobin & Lexodious Dadd, Leanne Tobin, Fred Williams, Ken + Julia Yonetani and Kasia Zieminksa.
Arboreal Narratives 2019: A Multidisciplinary exhibition in Honour of Trees. Curated by The Tree Veneration Society Inc. Grace Cossington Smith Gallery. 15 October- 2 November 2019
View Online catalogue here https://issuu.com/treevenerationsociety/docs/arboreal_narratives_catalogue
Arboreal Narratives 2020: A Multidisciplinary exhibition in Honour of Trees and Nature. Curated by The Tree Veneration Society Inc.. Sheffer gallery. 30 November – December 5 2020
View Online catalogue here https://issuu.com/treevenerationsociety/docs/arboreal_narratives_catalogue_2020
Carved Trees: Aboriginal Cultures of Western NSW. Exhibition at the State Library of NSW. 2011
Synopsis: Ornate and expressive, carved trees have been used by Aboriginal people in New South Wales as a form of visual communication for thousands of years. These elaborate cultural expressions — carved into the sapwood and heartwood of trees once a section of external bark was removed — were meant to last. Sadly, after European colonisation, the practice was abandoned and the original meanings lost.
Nous Les Arbres (We the Trees). Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain. Paris. July 12 – November 10, 2019. Under the direction of Collectif
Synopsis: Emanuele Coccia, Francis Hallé, Stefano Manusco et al. Through the presentation of many works, from painting to sculpture through architecture, this catalogue describes the beauty, the biological richness as well as the many faculties of trees, while alerting to the threats that weigh on their survival. https://www.franceculture.fr/oeuvre/nous-les-arbres
Tree of Life: a Testament to Endurance. National Trust S.H.Ervin Gallery. Curated by Gavin Wilson. 11 April – 30 May 2021
Synopsis: As we cautiously emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, humanity is faced with a stark reckoning. The concept for Tree of life is the central motif that signifies the challenges we face. What remains of the natural world is the one beacon in a perilous age of drought, fire, floods and plague, exacerbated by the constant reality of climate change. The recent horrific fire season experienced across the country will go down as the greatest extinction event for Australian wildlife and habitats since Colonisation. To temper an already dangerous over reaction to the vexed issues of hazard reduction, tree thinning and further rampant land clearing, this major exhibition led by First Nations artists will generate a fresh, positive energy towards the reclamation of diminishing natural resources. Threads woven through Tree of life will recognise the deep spiritual and physical associations that connect all forms of life. Life that must be nurtured as we chart a course of action through this perilous age of climate change, pandemics and wildfires.
Exhibiting artists include – from the APY Lands, Adelaide Studio Women’s Collective Josephine Mick, Rhoda Tjitayi, Katie Curley, Barbara Baker, Margot Brown, Inawintji Williamson and Margaret Richards – together with Allana Beltran, Rob Blakers, GW Bot, Nicholas Blowers, Nici Cumpston, Tamara Dean, Rachel Ellis, Louise Fowler-Smith, Richard Goodwin, Nicholas Harding, Janet Laurence, Idris Murphy, Andrew Merry, Euan Macleod, Mathew Newton, Peggy Patrick. William Robinson, Shane Smithers, Mary Tonkin, Emma Walker, John R. Walker and Joshua Yeldham.