Ancient mahogany tree felled in storm Yagi is brilliantly 'revived' at Co Tan flower garden

Cây xà cừ cổ thụ đổ trong bão Yagi được ‘hồi sinh’ rực rỡ tại vườn hoa Cổ Tân - Ảnh 1. — Artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen next to the ancient xà cu tree after it was revived - Photo: Artist provided

That is a 70 year old rosewood tree. at Co Tan flower garden, next to Hanoi Opera House, was uprooted beyond repair after Typhoon Yagi.

After half a year, it was "resurrected" to another life in a passionate work of art called Revival by artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen, a daughter of Hanoi.

The installation is located right where the ancient tree stood for 70 years, witnessing the city's joys and sorrows and ups and downs, allowing visitors to visit freely.

Just completed, the work quickly attracted the attention of city residents and tourists.

6 tons of steel and a lot of dedication to 'revive' the ancient soapberry tree

Artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen said that right after the storm passed, she and her friends went to survey and witnessed the scene of trees in her hometown lying flat on the ground, her heart ached.

Hồi sinh - Ảnh 2. — Resurrection from a fallen acacia tree in Co Tan flower garden - Photo: Artist provided

When arriving at Co Tan flower garden, seeing the image of a 70-year-old rosewood tree uprooted and being cut down to be taken away, Tia-Thuy Nguyen and her friends immediately contacted the authorities to come up with a plan to "revive" the tree and received enthusiastic support.

She and her colleagues quickly set to work on the work.

After trimming the entire trunk and roots, the female artist covered the tree trunk with thick, hand-shaped stainless steel panels.

This process is extremely meticulous so that the steel pieces hug the rough curves of the tree trunk. The joints are welded tightly, creating rough knots and grooves like the tree's former bark.

The branches are simulated with natural, winding lines. The foliage is made up of thousands of shiny steel leaves, dotted with colorful sparkling quartz "flowers".

More than 6 tons of steel were used to wrap the tree trunk, branches and leaves with the intention of "catching the sunlight". When the sunlight appears, it will create a sparkling effect, creating a song of life.

Hồi sinh - Ảnh 3. — Amidst the green of the leaves in Co Tan flower garden is the sparkling color of the steel foliage of the work Revival - Photo: Provided by the artist

Gratitude to Mother Nature

Meaningful work is completed, attracting attention and great inspiration to the community.

Having been looking forward to the day of creating a work of gratitude to Hanoi for a long time, after more than half a year of hard work, artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen has fulfilled that wish.

She said the warm reception from everyone is not only her own success, but also the result of a close-knit community, working together to create good things.

"This fallen mahogany tree belongs to the generation of trees imported from Africa by the French to experimentally plant as street trees. This generation of trees represents a historical period of the Capital.

The revival will contribute to creating a creative space for Hanoi residents as well as tourists to see and experience every day.

This is also a way to show gratitude to the trees that have fulfilled their mission of providing shade for the city for many years, and to show gratitude to Mother Nature." Mr. Pham Tuan Long - Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People's Committee shared.