Rising Trees
Lies Daenen
‘Rising Trees nodigt ons uit om stil te staan bij de eeuwige cyclus van leven en dood, die de natuur ons voorhoudt.’
In Rising Trees, an imaginary forest arises from the imprints of fallen trees. For years, Lies Daenen has repeatedly travelled to forests and parks to make prints of dead or dying trees. She calls these prints “tree shrouds,” in analogy with burial shrouds. Together with different groups of companions, she inks the trees, covers them with linen, and creates precise prints. She does this final step by rubbing with stones—a reference to an ancient practice of druids, who used a similar movement to release the souls of dead trees. It is a ritual process of letting go, honoring, and reconnecting with nature. In this way, Daenen makes the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature tangible.
During Artefact Lies Daenen will also give an Artist Talk (25.02) and organise a workshop on tree shrouds (28.02).
2021 - 2023 Installatie, 6 textielen doeken, afmetingen 570 x 142 cm, 500 x 285 cm, 775 x 144 cm, 775 x 143 cm, 490 x 205 cm, 570 x 187 cm, 15 met inkt bedrukte stenen
Courtesy of the artist
Lies Daenen
°1966, Tongeren, Belgium
Lies Daenen is an artist and philosopher, familiar with shamanic and spiritual practices. In her work, she questions the dominant anthropocentric and Western-ethnocentric worldview. She creates a universe in which human and non-human life are equally and reciprocally connected. This attention to more-than-human relationships goes hand in hand with a relational inquiry into colonial history. Driven by a curiosity for genuine contact, Daenen invites viewers to experience the power of an animated relationship with nature. She explores how this connection can serve as a foundation for personal and collective healing. Since 2009, Daenen has presented work in various locations. She participated multiple times in the Kunstroute Leuven and exhibited work at KADOC in Leuven (2019), at Vonk in Tongeren (2021) and in Expo Leuven (2023). She was also involved in the project PiLoT Art and Science, a collaboration between SLAC Leuven and KU Leuven, which was shown at STUK Leuven. Lies Daenen lives and works in Oud-Heverlee.
Photo: Lies Daenen © Bert Daenen