JOHANNES BOSGRA - TREES BY BOSGRA
In the series ‘Trees by Bosgra’, Johannes Bosgra (b. 1979, The Netherlands) reflects on his youth and family history by photographing trees, planted and grown by his ancestors. Since he can recall, looking at nature moved him into the world of dreams and imagination. By tracing the trees planted by his late family members, Bosgra reconnects with his childhood memories.
Dating back to the 1700, an English tree nursery established by his ancestors, supplied Dutch estates and parks with trees. Thanks to a plant record kept since 1861, Bosgra was able to trace the specific trees and he then photographed them - trees that are decorating the landscapes of Stania State and Fogelsangh State, both located in Friesland, northern part of The Netherlands.
The pristine plants were grown by his great great great grandfather - Tiete Bosgra (1794-1875). The constructed landscapes are a direct reference to the Romanticism movement of the 19th century; the cyan blue sky (the blue-grey color palette is a reference to the work of the Dutch artist Willem van Althuis), perfectly round lawns and pictorial water reflections, create an idyllic landscape, resonating calmness but at the same time, mystery. By experimenting with transparent materials, the viewer experiences the layers of time and of the landscape.