The Day after Tomorrow How does a tree die and what does it have to do with us?

"Research suggests that global warming could trigger sudden and catastrophic climate change across the planet. When a chunk of ice the size of the territory of Rhode Island breaks away from an iceberg, a series of sudden and dramatic weather events is the result. Tokyo is covered by huge hailstones, Hawaii is inundated by violent hurricanes, New Delhi is buried under snow, and Los Angeles is hit by a series of devastating tornadoes."

What seemed like absolute fiction to most of the moviegoers of Emmerich's 2004 disaster film "The Day after Tomorrow" is now reality in some cases. It is particularly bitter when a 17-year-old film quote like this one corresponds to the truth: "For decades, we were convinced that we could continue to consume our planet's natural resources without consequences. We were wrong." 

And while currently COP26, the UN climate conference, is taking place in Glasgow until November 12, and the situation is more than serious, the climate goals demanded by Fridays for Future, such as net zero by 2035, coal phase-out by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2035*, are still not taken seriously by politics, business and industry, let alone implemented.

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The effects will be devastating and will become reality faster than Emmerich can say "And Action!".

How does a tree die and what does that have to do with us?

In light of the fact that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in its 2020 Forest Report, 4.2 million square kilometers of forest - not just tropical rainforests - have been lost worldwide since 1990, (an area nearly twelve times that of Germany), artist Vera Young's gesture of covering an unnoticed dead tree with red silk in front of the Efremidis Gallery is a provocative act of love.

That's why our tip for the next few weeks: Urban outdoor art combined with a walk. For example, from the Efremidis Gallery at Ernst-Reuter-Platz via the Tiergarten to the Haus am Lützowplatz. Enjoy the more or less fresh air, the sun and the wonderful autumn colors on the leaves of the trees.

Arriving at the Haus am Lützowplatz, go to the courtyard garden of the institution and look at the over two meters high black and silver sculpture by Susanne Lorenz and Tilman Wendland, which looks quite similar to a certain virus, it was christened "Rebound Rotation". Intended or not, it is nevertheless inevitably a reflection of the reality of the last two years and decades.

"What goes around comes around." This is because the systematic clearing of rainforests is causing numerous animals to lose their habitat - and thus forcing them to come ever closer to humans. As a result, viruses have a much easier time spreading to humans. Well over half of the known pathogens originally came from animals. Reality bites...Literally!

Last but not least, ironically, there will be a free concert with singers from the Berlin State and Cathedral Choir on November 24 in the Lustgarten of the Berlin Cathedral, entitled: "Singing Trees What Times are these?

Esther Harrison

Autorin Kunst Berlin