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Planetary Culture of Coexistence Trees:
living monuments to acceptance of differences
A natural phenomenon
When he saw how trees grow right around and through a fence, artist Daniel-Jean Primeau realized that this was material for a unique and original work of art.
A living tree as a symbol of coexistence
Even though they are merged, the fence remains whole and the tree remains healthy. The artist saw this as a message from nature that he wants to spread to everyone: an illustration of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of differences.
A sign of hope for Jerusalem
The fact that there is a Coexistence Tree where the Jewish and Arab quarters meet in the old city of Jerusalem is perhaps not a coincidence.
The tree took root there as an example of peace and harmony between peoples and cultures. It is all the more powerful a symbol in view of the conflict in the region where it joins the two sides.
Catching the poetry of this image
In Jerusalem, such an exceptional tree must be protected, and its symbolism explained to the local residents and the over 600,000 tourists* from around the world who visit the city every year. (* average over the past 10 years (Source: Israel Bureau of Statistics))
The tree at the heart of a small garden
The artist suggests that a small sculptural garden be created to surround the Coexistence Tree, with a ring of steel to symbolize the alliance and two granite seats as an invitation to dialogue, all to emphasize Nature's message in favour of peace.
(digital maquette of proposed art garden)
(the location as it looks now)
A collective effect
Globally speaking, this international collection is intended to find, identify, combine, link, protect and coax the poetry out of these expressive trees, by creating small art gardens around them. All this is called Planetary Culture of Coexistence Trees.
It's a chance worth taking. To encourage harmony among peoples, other Coexistence Tree gardens are planned for Cairo, Paris, Montreal, Berlin, Seoul, Prague, Moscow, New York, Angkor, Budapest, Belfast, Pretoria, Beijing, Lima, New Delhi, London, Brussels, The Hague, Hiroshima, Melbourne, Sarajevo, Hanoi, Kigali, Colombo, Djakarta... Coexistence Trees exist wherever trees grow.
 Cairo's Acacia Plane-tree in Paris
 Montreal's Poplar
A "net-work" of art
With so many Coexistence Trees all around the world, this environmental sculpture is too vast to be seen at a glance. A Website will be essential for a complete perspective. At the same time, such a site will act as the cement, holding the whole project together. Through its international vision, this daring project has the potential of becoming the world's greatest conceptual work of art: structured, organized, and yet natural, living, monumental and meaningful at the same time.
Contribute to the
Planetary Culture of Coexistence Trees
- find a tree
- finance a project step
- hire the artist as a speaker
Disillusion
Symbolically, the Jerusalem tree is a model for peace and coexistence among peoples and cultures. And knowing all the problems in the region, the symbol is even more relevant.
Back from my contacts in Jerusalem, all I was reading in the news were convincing me I had to go on with the project. But the New Intifadah extends in time and in violence, thus standing in the way.
Contacts for financing received the same answer: "A beautiful and humanist project that risks ending in a blood shed. Very bad for the image!"
So I decided to postpone the project. I will have to wait for new leaders, wait to the end of extremism, radicalism, and violence. And I dare criticizing Israel for throwing oil on the fire with extreme retaliation.
More to read (project for Jerusalem)
in details
executive summary
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