One year, 365 trees, ten countries, 80 ‘co-climbers’.
Described as ‘a radical manifesto from the branches, new book Art of Climbing Trees was, fifteen years in the making – a crowd-funder delivers more than a decade late!
Art of Climbing Trees (A.C.T.) is a beautifully illustrated, genre-bending book; a hybrid of travel diary, visual art project, and ecological and political manifesto.
It chronicles Henrik Dahle’s immersive year-long journey: climbing one tree per day while inviting over 80 “co-climbers” to join him in exploring nature, civilisation, resistance, and belonging.
From a Scots pine at the holocaust memorial in Berlin, to Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree before it was felled in the forest encircling Oslo, to unexpected canopies across 10 countries in Europe. Interviewees included the late economist David Fleming, founders of environmental organisations Rob Hopkins, and the late Erik Dammann, Norwegian Green party politician Hanna Marcussen, a band touring Europe by bike, an ex-gangster, a woman in need of a heart transplant, 44 people at once (including an 8 month pregnant woman), professors, activists, artists, and the author’s whole family!
Art of Climbing Trees is a call to reimagine the world with pragmatic cynicism, and hope; a book for any aspiring utopian.
Henrik G. Dahle is a multidisciplinary British/Norwegian artist, performer, activist, and carpenter. The 48 year old from Southampton, UK, and Lillehammer, Norway, has dedicated his practices to the environment, and a peaceful transition.
He made a bus his home – freeing time to finish his book. The decision to climb trees every day for a year was made on a whim, and in his own words, ‘The trees nearly ruined my life, as well as remaking it’.
In 2013, Dahle ran a crowd-funder for A.C.T., appearing in many UK national newspapers, the aim of delivering books that year = wildly over-optimistic. The project took 15 years to complete, and delivered 12 years late for crowd-funders! The publication of A.C.T. is also a story of dedication to keeping a promise.
Many of the trees featured in the book were climbed in Southampton.
On October 17th, Dahle will be holding a ‘theatrical book presentation’ at Southampton’s October Books.
Half of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to War Child, with the remainder covering costs such as the venue.
The event will feature participants of the project, art, theatre, readings and hanging out.
Your ticket includes a donation to War Child, an original work of art by Henrik G Dahle, a drink, 10% off Art of Climbing Trees, 10% off any book at October Books, and an enriching/good time.
As reported by one participant of the event in Bristol: ‘It’s the most extraordinary book launch I’ve been to, and I’ve been to a lot’.
Tickets: artofclimbingtrees/1827743
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