Beneath the canopy of 25 ancient Taxus trees lies a mystical space within Elisabeth Park, Brussels. On Sunday, August 18th, 2024, we invited an audience to step into this sacred grove and attune themselves to the whispers of the trees. As symbols of eternity, these trees act as portals to other realms. Each Taxus tree thus served as a gateway to a unique artistic intervention, crafted in harmony with the trees.

Attendees were encouraged to bring their smartphones and headphones, as the artworks were accessible via QR codes. This modern touch seamlessly bridged the ancient with the contemporary while preserving the sanctity of the natural space. You can visit the Taxus trees in the Elisabeth park whenever you like and have direct access to all the artworks through this webpage.

We recommend experiencing these artworks by connecting your smartphone and headphones to the website while spending time with the Taxus trees in Elisabeth Park—or any other Taxus trees that may be closer to you.

This project is a research initiative that delves into the history, energetic power, and properties of the Taxus tree and its relation to sacred trees at large. Through this intervention, we aim to highlight the importance of nature in the urban landscape and to remind people that they can connect with nature at any time to receive its wisdom.

The artworks were created by DIAN, Flor Maesen, HUMN, Iveesweet, Julia Dyck, Lennert De Lathauwer, MCMM, Karolien Polenus, and Quanta Qualia. The concept and curation were crafted by Karolien Polenus, produced by BARЯA Movement, and funded by the VGC.