Jr’s 10,000-hand tree is rooted in the former Montpellier Church – Huge
French artist Xiao is known for his large-scale participation in art projects and he embarked on a new project that brings life to a historic site. A scan and print hand sprouted in 1869 at the Catholic Church (Carré Sainte-Anne), built in most Protestant city of Montpellier, a Catholic church. The site in southern France became an arts centre in 1991 and reopened seven years after renovation.
JR’s exhibition Addingice is the first committee in the revitalization space and in the name of Latin “venire”, which translates to “from outside.” In botanical terms, this term usually refers to weeds and specimens that were not intentionally planted.
According to Carré Sainte-Anne, the landscape of Montpellier is a direct result of the spread of travelers, trade and opportunistic factories:
When the medieval Lez river bank emerged along the first curtain plant, unidentified flora began to grow here and there. Wool imported from Spain, North Africa, Constantinople and Smyrna were washed in the waters and released these seeds from distant lands, which grew due to the fertile conditions of the Mediterranean River.
Today, French gardens and landscapes pride themselves on the beauty of a variety of species that live in harmony.
JR has always been interested in establishing a connection between individuals and the wider social problem, drawing on this historical and contemporary issue of immigration and displacement. Addingice 10,000 people in the local community were suspended, including smaller wall works with similar descriptions.
The monumental installations constitute spongy neo-Gothic architecture and stained glass windows celebrate the many people needed for the ecosystem to flourish. Each hand is both a leaf and a seed, a sign of life and vitality and a fundamental component of the future of the tree.
Addingice It will be unfolded by December 7, and visitors can contribute to their work throughout the show.
