UNIVERSAL FAMILY TREE #1

11 generations with 1024 individuals | 8000 m sisal rope, knotted | 4m high, 3 x 3 m expanse | 2012

Universal family tree #1, Künstlerhaus Dortmund, 2020, Photo: Hannes Woidich
Universal family tree #1, Künstlerhaus Dortmund, 2020, Photo: Hannes Woidich

The work "Universal family tree #1" materializes the idea on which the video work "Legacy" is grounded.
More than 8000 m of sisal rope are interweaved with eachother in 11 generations.
Starting with the 11th generation in the past  (with 1024 individuals), the ropes make their way through the generations by pairing and building knots with eachother. With every generation more ropes are joining the strands, like genetic information of each individual. In the end the growth is reaching the surface, the temorary end of the universal family tree and all ropes join to one knot.

Universal family tree #1, 2012
Universal family tree #1, 2012
Universal family tree #1, 2012
Universal family tree #1, 2012
Universal family tree #1, 2012
Universal family tree #1, 2012