WHAT? Giuseppe Penone - Thoughts in the Roots 

WHERE? Serpentine South, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA

WHEN? Now until 7th September. Free to view 

WHY GO? To embody the elements. In the gallery and spreading out into the glorious green Royal Park, Italian artist Penone honours nature in its truest form through trees. 

“A tree’s body is in itself a sculpture”, says Penone in the short online video that accompanies the exhibition. 

Celebrating five-decades of visionary work, he is today’s man of the moment as we are all infatuated with preserving our environment. 

Our relationship with trees is border-line obsessive and this exhibition feeds into our imagination, where some sculptures almost morph into human shapes, a feature of his work that has virtually become a signature trait. 

Penone's sculptures have influenced many eco artists today. He is known worldwide and has a long standing relationship with the Serpentine having participated in their 2011 Garden Marathon Festival.

Inside the gallery, a hypnotic wall of trees is the centrepiece. Twelve carved saplings form a ‘book of trees’ with meaningful name tags that relate to our natural habitat.  

Sculptures in plant pots are in harmony with the park and drawings and thoughtful poetic writings expand on the vitality of trees and their very roots. 

Spiritual and educational, this visionary exhibition is one for the whole family. Leave carrying the fragrance of Laurel leaves to admire Penone’s powerful tree sculptures in the park, which are actually made from bronze to surprise yet delight! 

IN THE KNOW 

Tap into the Serpentine’s online video where the contemplative 78-year old Penone gathers leaves, splits tree trunks and generally expands on his theories and techniques. His obvious love for nature beams through and it’s impossible not to feel a deep appreciation for a man who has dedicated his life to expanding upon the relationship between humans and nature.