Abelen Architectuur has created the artwork DNA for the 15th edition of LandArt Brabant. DNA is a construction made of wood that refers to the theme of Memory and Future.
DNA, just like a fingerprint, is different for every person. All properties such as hair color and eye color are stored in DNA. Through our DNA we all have a unique and living archive document. This cellular legacy also contains memories. A memory is an experience that is stored in memory and that people can recall.
Just as we store our memories in our DNA, the memory of a tree can be derived from its annual rings. If you look closely at the trunk of a tree you can learn a lot about the tree, for example about the weather conditions in a particular year. You can discover how old the tree is by looking at the annual rings of a tree. Annual rings also predict the future behavior of a tree. So, the future lies in the past. And the past is determined by our DNA and our memories. The past is also visible in the landscape. The landscape therefore works as our collective memory.
The artwork DNA is part of the landscape. Just like the old burial mounds and ramparts in the wooded area of Knegsel, the work becomes part of our collective memory. In the present we live between memory and future. The artwork makes visitors aware of the role that DNA plays in this. The construction of DNA is made up of wooden beams that are offset from each other. The beams are connected to each other by dowels.
