Postcards for If Trees Could Talk International Art Biennale
Mixed media, submission to If Trees Could Talk, 2024
The Center for Art, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) called for postcard submissions for the If Trees Could Talk International Art Biennale. People can interpret the theme through whichever medium they preferred, whether this is through a drawing, a painting, or even a poem! I wanted to share what I thought trees would say, and I love how CANVAS explores nature as a subject matter and advocates for it, too, so I joined! The outdoor art biennale is exhibited at Ibaan, Batangas from February–June 2024.
Blanket of Trees
Medium: Gouache on paper
My hometown is surrounded by lots of mountains with trees comfortably blanketing them. However, throughout the years, trees were cut down in some areas for more houses and subdivisions.
If trees could talk, I know that they would say that they’ll still help us and want to keep the present and future generation safe and protected, even as we sleep.
Spoken Poetree
Medium: Colored Pencils on paper
A girl holds a microphone for each tree to speak in a gathering. Could it be team meeting, a pep rally, a surprise birthday celebration, or a spoken poetree event? It could be that they’re also warning each other of dangers like an insect infestation or maybe big scary contraptions about to cut them down.
With the help of underground fungal networks (the mycelium or mycorrhizal network), they’re able to send and receive information and of course water, carbon, and other minerals!
Don’t Let the Colors Drain
Medium: Pen & colored pencils on paper
Trees give colors to our lives and to our surroundings. The color of the branch is drained, because of the state of our climate these recent years.
However, even if there is excessive human activity that exacerbates the climate crisis and its effects, I think trees would still remain as friends. They would still continue to give, give, and give.
The branch is still giving fruits, leaves, and shade for us little people even if life is slowly draining from it. They are happy to provide, but we must help the helpers, too.
The submitted postcards were exhibited as well at Art Fair Philippines on February 2024 under CANVAS’ If Trees Could Talk!
I loved learning and seeing how artists creatively interpreted the theme!