Once Upon a Time There Was a Tree. That’s the English translation of Es war einmal ein Baum. We are standing before a bronze cast of a tree trunk. It’s more than just a sculpture. It is a memorial.
This memorial commemorates an old beech tree. The tree once stood beside the Wilhelm Hausenstein Gymnasium. The school is in Bogenhausen. The beech tree had to be felled. This happened when the school was renovated and expanded. A flat annex was planned for the tree’s spot.
Tim Bennett visited the site. He decided to create a memorial to the beech tree. The tree had been there for many student generations. After it was chopped down, Bennett had its trunk cast in bronze. The sculpture was installed near the entrance.
But that’s not all. A bronze plaque marks the tree’s original location. It is in the new break room.
The title of the piece is important. Es war einmal ein Baum refers to a tale by Wilhelm Hausenstein. The tale is called “A Tree is Felled”. Hausenstein links melancholy observations of nature. He connects them with the passage of time.
Bennett involved the school’s pupils in the work. He conducted a workshop. Participants found fragments of texts and images. They etched these into the tree trunk. These are signs of remembrance.
The goal was not only to reflect on their own feelings. It was also to think about future generations. How would future students perceive their contributions?
The students and the artist visited a foundry. It was in Munich’s West End. They carved their signs into the wax mold. This was for the bronze casting.
Tim Bennett’s work does more than recall a bit of nature. It also remembers the pupils. They spent a few years of their lives in this school. Then they were released into life.
The Es war einmal ein Baum sculpture serves as a reminder. It connects the past with the present. It also invites reflection on nature. It encourages us to consider our impact on the environment. It connects students across generations.
Take a closer look. Notice the textures of the bronze. Imagine the beech tree standing tall. Think about the students who sat under its branches. Consider the messages etched into the trunk. They are whispers from the past.
The Es war einmal ein Baum is more than art. It is a living memory. It is a testament to the enduring power of nature. It also shows the importance of remembrance. It invites us to reflect on our own stories. It also invites us to consider our place in the world.