Tying trees to the ground is a method for securing saplings or protecting aged trees in vulnerable positions. However, the scraggly, hardy exotics in the Eucalyptus grove seem to be far past the need for protection. As a symbol of the complex push and pull of settler experience, these strangely anchored trees suggest both the comfort of a homeland, and a sense of impermanence.

Many trees from other lands are already with us is inspired by the history of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens as a place where settlers sought the shelter and comfort of trees from Home. The artwork belies the sense of permanence and ownership in the act of planting familiar trees in a new land. 

As an Australian-born Pākeha trying to understand her postcolonial identity and responsibilities, I chose to work with trees that aren’t highly valued aesthetically or symbolically in New Zealand. These trees from my Home  provide both comfort and familiarity, and yet, the artwork suggests that the ties are tenuous and temporary.