84.1 x 59.4 cm, Edition of 6 + 1 AP
48.3 x 32.9 cm, Edition of 6 + 1 AP
In The Guru, a venerable ancient lime tree is sitting in meditation with its disciples. These spiritual warriors gather within a few meters of each other, standing firmly, exuding courage, fearlessness and calm. They are Keepers of the ancient law of life.
Wingfield has repeatedly visited these trees over the years. They have become mentors and friends, guiding her through the challenge and noise of our modern world and promoting inner peace. The series seeks to reveal the powerful wisdom of the natural world.
The camera’s low viewpoint and shortened gaze tell of their magnitude. In each image the eye is lead upwards as though we crouch low in a position of worship.
Our vision is cut short; we are presented with only the lowest vantage. We understand that Wingfield’s monuments of nature are too great to be viewed in their entirety. They must be appreciated in a gradual and meditative process encouraging inwardness.
Rendered in black and white the photographs carry a visual calmness that is distanced from the glare of daily life.
The close ups of their sturdy and sculptural trunks radiate inner strength. The bark reads like an old manuscript, scarred by knots and galls bearing memories to the struggles endured throughout an earthly journey. The architectural pathways of the roots reach down to the depths of the earth and infuse life through the steady pulse that emerges from the ground. In a visual dialogue with the writings of the Swiss German novelist Herman Hesse, Wingfield’s trees in The Guru are conveyed as icons of the truth.
“Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.”
Herman Hesse
Bäume: Betratungen und Gedichte