Weeping Willow Tree
Clemens Wilhelm is a Berlin based artist who spent a lot of time working in both Britain and other countries around Europe. He joined us in the winter of 2018/19 in the run up to Brexit when Britain intends to leave the European Union.
The withdrawal of the UK from the EU - colloquially called Brexit - has created a lot of division between people, families and friends. Young and old, incomer and native, England and Scotland. Our question was: How can we bring together Euro-files and -sceptics around the table and move on?
First on 29th March and then 31st October we planned to plant a Weeping Willow to mark the historic day. Many of us were sad and fear losing friends, travel opportunities and income. Others looked forward to the change and hoped for prosperity and unity in a different way. With the tree - a sign for both hope and sorrow - we wanted to mark the day, to move on and bring people together once again. In collaboration with the community of Huntly, local authorities, tree and other specialists we identified the right location for this tree along the river Deveron. A round bench has been produced in collaboration with local joiner David Whitehead. The tree was finally planted in the centre of this bench on the historic day of 31st January 2020.
The tree has since been uprooted and replanted several times. In February 2021, a premiere of Clemens Wilhelm Jan Martinec's film The Brexit Tree was organised in partnership with The Alchemy Film and Arts.
Extended Press
Herald - 28/12/2018 (online version)
Online
Alchemy Film & Arts - 04-07/02/2021
Süddeutsche Zeitung - 04/02/2020
Belfast Telegraph - 27/12/2018
Bailiwick Express - 28/12/2018
Barry District News - 28/12/2018
Bicester Advertiser - 28/12/2018
Chester and District Standard - 28/12/2018
Craven Herald & Pioneer - 28/12/2018
Crewe and Nantwich Guardian - 28/12/2018
Daily Gazette Essex County Standard - 28/12/2018
Droitwich Advertiser - 28/12/2018
Dundee Born and Read Evening Telegraph - 28/12/2018
East Lothian Courier - 28/12/2018
Enfield Independent - 28/12/2018
Greenock Telegraph - 28/12/2018
Harwich and Manningtree Standard - 28/12/2018 (live link)
Herald - 28/12/2018 (online version)
The Impartial Reporter - 28/12/2018
Isle of Wight County Press - 28/12/2018
Jersey Evening Post - 28/12/2018
Knutsford Guardian - 28/12/2018
Lancashire Telegraph - 28/12/2018
The Mail (North West England) - 28/12/2018
The Milford Mercury - 28/12/2018
News and Star with the Cumberland News - 28/12/2018
Oswestry and Border Counties Advertizer - 28/12/2018
The Press and Journal - 28/12/2018
The Press and Journal - 22/01/2020
Richmond and Twickenham Times - 28/12/2018
Romsey Advertiser - 28/12/2018
Rumcorn and Widnes World - 28/12/2018
Somerset's Heartbeat County Gazette - 28/12/2018
Southern Daily Echo - 28/12/2018
South Wales Argus - 28/12/2018
Sutton and Croydon Guardian - 28/12/2018
Swindon Advertiser - 28/12/2018
This is Wiltshire - 28/12/2018
This is the West Country - 28/12/2018
Western Telegraph - 28/12/2018
Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard - 28/12/2018