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Forbidden Fruit

Stainless steel cage, apple tree

This is a sculpture comprised of one apple tree housed within a steel cage 2 metres high by 130cm wide. The title refers to the tree from which Eve picked the famous apple, in the Christian tradition the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” within the Garden of Eden, in the Quran it is known as “the tree of immortality”. In my project, the tree is thought of more as an iconic symbol of nature and creation, as well as a connection between nature and humanity. Consequentially, the real question we should be asking is what is our relationship to this tree, are we using the cage to protect it, or is it actually imprisoned? What will happen when the tree grows too large for the cage? Additionally, as this species of apple tree needs a pollinator partner, there is another ‘uncaged’ apple tree nearby on the property creating a paradoxical relationship.

Paul and Jacqueline’s beautiful garden is thankfully a place totally free from environmental conflict, a Garden of Eden in Lazio if you like, and therefore a suitable place to show this work which was conceived specially for La Serpara.