100 Oak Trees from Beuys' Plantings Now at Tate Modern

In 1982, Joseph Beuys proposed planting 7,000 oak trees in Kassel for Documenta 7, titled 'City Forestation Instead of City Administration.' In 2007, British artists Ackroyd & Harvey collected acorns from those trees. Now, 100 grown oaks are installed at Tate Modern as 'Beuys’ Acorns,' an environmental installation and meeting space. The terrace installation complements Beuys' work 'The End of the 20th Century' (1983-5) in the museum's permanent collection. Ackroyd & Harvey, co-founders of Culture Declares Emergency (launched 2019), align with Beuys' ecological spirit on his centenary. The installation minimized environmental impact: materials were transported by bicycle, local resources used, and no plastics or harmful chemicals. After the show, most materials will be reused or disposed of properly, and seven oaks will be permanently planted. The artists note that despite COVID-19 emission reductions, the last 12 months saw the third worst year for global tree loss since 2002. The work serves as a reminder of deforestation. Ackroyd & Harvey stated, 'Beuys asked that the world become a great forest. We feel a strong sense of protection for these young trees in a time of enormous social, political, and ecological instability.' A summer program of talks, seminars, and workshops on environmental themes accompanies the installation.