How about a splash of ultramarine in our everyday lives? That’s precisely what artist Konstantin Dimopoulos offered Houston with his environmental art installation, Landscape with Blue Trees.
Let’s talk about the Landscape with Blue Trees. It transformed a familiar urban scene into something surreal. It was even a little uncomfortable for some.
In 2013, Dimopoulos chose crepe myrtle trees at Waugh and Memorial Drive as his canvas. He didn’t paint them. He colored them with a biologically safe pigment. This was a very important distinction for the artist.
Over 200 volunteers helped Dimopoulos transform the trees. They colored the trunks and branches. Young volunteers from River Oaks Elementary and the Blaffer Art Museum joined in. The natural blue pigment was mixed in plastic buckets.
The color was temporary. It was intended to highlight the essential role of trees in our environment. The blue was designed to fade naturally in six to seven months. The color would eventually disappear without harming the trees.
Dimopoulos said the Landscape with Blue Trees had a regenerative aspect. It was an organic work continually changing and evolving. The colors changed and disappeared from season to season.
Time passing was a part of the concept. Time determines our own existence. It is measured through these trees.
The Houston Arts Alliance organized the project. There was an opening reception at the HAA Gallery.
Walking through the grove was surprisingly peaceful. This was true even with traffic zipping by. The artist elevated the trees’ role in our lives. They became objects of appreciation, not just everyday landscape.
Some people compared it to Yves Klein’s aesthetic. Others felt Houston needed more large-scale temporary art. Inviting international artists was beneficial. It would allow the local artist community to learn.
Whether you loved it or thought it was a rip-off, the Landscape with Blue Trees sparked conversation. It prompted us to think about art in public spaces. It made us consider our relationship with nature. It also made us wonder about the impact of color on our perception. It was a temporary splash of blue that left a lasting impression.