The Public Oak

🌳 Dö för Dig/Slå rot (Die for You/Take Roots): An Upside-Down Oak in the Heart of Stockholm 🌳

Dö för Dig - Slå rot, a masterpiece by Charlotte Gyllenhammar, isn't just an oak - it's a powerful statement, a symbol of vulnerability and strength. Suspended upside down above Drottninggatan at Sergels torg in the fall of 2023, this iconic oak challenges our perspectives and delves into the complexities of human existence.

💪 Despite it's might, the oak's inverted position echoes the harsh transformation of urban spaces in the 1960s, a major contrast to the devastation caused by war in many European cities just a few years earlier.

🎨 Originally featured in the "Rules of the Game"-exhibition back in 1993, Dö för Dig marked a turning point for public art in Sweden, inviting artistic expression into urban landscapes. Now, after three decades, a new iteration of this profound work was rising once again, reaffirming its significance in a transformed cityscape.

🔄 The oak, sourced sustainably from private land, stands as a testament to regeneration. Thinned out to allow other trees to flourish, it embodies the cycle of life, offering new beginnings beyond its own existence.

🏙️ Drottninggatan's Evolution: Since 1993, Drottninggatan has witnessed profound changes, including the tragic events of 2017. Die for You/Take Roots, 2023 serves as a poignant reference point, adding depth to the city's narrative.

🛑 As of November 18th, the oak has been carefully taken down. 🌳 When it rises again, only time will tell, carrying with it the memories and reflections inspired by this remarkable piece of public art.

🎨 Artistic Visionaries: Charlotte Gyllenhammar, alongside Stockholm Art and the State Art Council, spearheaded this transformative project. Special thanks to Niklas Haglund, Ramsbury, Binsell, and Carlhans for their invaluable contributions.

📰 Check out the article in the Financial Times ("The Artistic Enigma of the Tree"): https://lnkd.in/d6tewzdD 

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