September 06, 2026, 12 p.m.

Exhibition period: September 06 – October 04, 2026

Venue: Kunstraum MITTE37, Burgdorf

The exhibition EXPANDED FIELD II THE TREE at Kunstraum MITTE37 unfolds the tree as a multi‑voiced figure that connects art, memory and future. Artists from more than thirty nations contribute to this open field and create a vibrant panorama in which the tree appears as a cultural, poetic and aesthetic force. Each work opens its own space, and together they form an international network of images, thoughts and atmospheres.

In this exhibition, the tree emerges as an archive. Its annual rings carry traces of time, climate and history. Many artists take up this idea and transform it into lines, layers, textures or digital patterns. In drawings, photographs and paintings, the tree becomes a form of memory that not only preserves but also continues to grow. The works show how remembrance can unfold — quietly, steadily and with deep resonance.

At the same time, the tree appears as a mythical figure. In poetic works, it becomes a world tree, an origin, a threshold between earth and sky. Some contributions draw on ancient stories, others create new ones. The tree becomes a place of transition, a symbol of connection and a sign of the vitality of all living things. In lyrical texts, photographs and experimental formats, a space emerges that invites the audience to engage with this profound cultural meaning.

In many works, the tree also takes shape as a figure of the future. Artists explore ecological visions, digital forms of nature and hybrid image worlds. The tree becomes a model for sustainable thinking, for new landscapes and for a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment. Some contributions use digital techniques, others natural materials or photographic series that capture light, seasons and the diversity of tree forms. A dialogue arises between tradition and innovation, between analogue and digital art.

The exhibition is also a Fluxus‑inspired laboratory. Numerous participants have not only submitted artworks but also sent seeds or small saplings. This gesture connects art and growth and turns the tree into a real, evolving element of the exhibition. The Kunstraum becomes a place where art is not only viewed but experienced — as process, movement and collective action.

The variety of media — painting, drawing, photography, digital art, text and hybrid formats — reflects the openness of the project. Most works follow the 2:3 vertical format, which emphasizes the tree as an upright figure and creates a calm, clear structure in the space. This shared format strengthens the presence of each work and lets the exhibition appear like a forest in which every tree tells its own story.

The opening on 6 September 2026 blends harmoniously into Burgdorf’s cultural life. The art market at Spittaplatz, the opening of the Freiwilligenzentrum Bürger für Bürger and the city’s open Sunday create a lively atmosphere in which art, community and urban life come together. Kunstraum MITTE37 becomes a place of exchange where international art and local culture enrich one another.

EXPANDED FIELD II – THE TREE is more than an exhibition. It is a resonant space where art, nature and memory grow together. Each work contributes to a shared image that presents the tree as a universal figure — as thought, as body, as future.

Kunstraum MITTE37, Mittelstraße 37 in Burgdorf; Tel.: 05136.7321

Artist in the exhibition: Péter Abajkovics, Hungary, José Luis Alcalde Soberanes, Spain, Meral Ağar, Turkey, MH//Antipode, Germany, Derya Avci, Turkey, Angel Bortot, Venezuela, Walter Bachmann, Germany, Ceren Baykan, Türkiye, Marzia Maria Braglia, Italy, Francesca Bella, Italy, Melanie Bäreis, Germany, Hans Braumüller, Germany, Anna Flávia Schmitt Wyse Baranski, Brazil, Adriana Horsmann, Argentina, Maria do Carmo Both, Brasil, Hanh Chau, China, Suely Castro Mello, Brasil, Binod Dawadi, Nepal, Michel Della Vedova, France, Vilma Dobilaitė, Spain, Floki Gauvry, Argentina, Rosalie Gancie, USA, Susan Gold, Canada, Eva Grabenhofer, Austria, Nihal Gures, Turkey, Carlo Maria Giudici, Italy, Leon Hainzl, Austria, Ed Hanssen, The Netherlands, Ingeborg Henrichs, Germany, Ulrich Rainald Hoffmann, Germany, Eleni Ioannou, Greece, Suzlee Ibrahim, Malaysia, Alexandru Jakabházi, Romania, Jeeja Jeeja Navghare, India, Gloria Keh, Singapore, Gabrielė Kuizinaitė, Lithuania, Varju Krisztián, Hungary, William Lee, Austria, Claudia Liekam, Germany, Alexander Limarev, Russia, Petra Lorenz, Germany, Adriana Lucaciu, Romania, Katerina Mandarik, France, Rebeca Martell, Mexico, Manuela Merl, Germany, Patty Milligan, Canada, Sibylle Möndel, Germany, Asma Ounine, Morocco, Zorica Obradović, Serbia, Wayne Owen, United Kingdom, Ovidiu Petca, Romania, Linda Pelati, Italy, Maria Grazia Piazza, Italy, Hugo Pontes, Brasil, Radoslav Rochallyi, Slovakia, Rado Rochallyi, Slovakia, Dale Roberts, Canada, Serena Rossi, Italy, Renate Helene Schweizer, Germany, Friedrich Schumacher, Germany, Susanne Schumacher, Germany, Rosana Schmitt, Brazil, Beate Senf-Hentsch, Germany, Carmela Sarcina, Italy, Agnieszka Sawicka, Poland, Fidels Daughter, Germany, Snappy, Canada, Dirk Strauch, Germany, Paulo Teles, Portugal, Stephen Tomasko, USA, Horst Tress, Germany, Mikel Untzilla, Argentina, Marta Valiani, Italy, Stella Maris Velasco, Argentina, Daniele Virgilio, Italy, Rainer Wieczorek, Germany, Jina Wallwork, United Kingdom, Zhang Xuran, China, _guroga, Venezuela 

The Kunstraum MITTE37 in Burgdorf has quickly developed into a vibrant place for contemporary art. Located on Mittelstraße 37, it combines the intimacy of a working space with the openness of a public forum. From the very beginning, MITTE37 was conceived as a space where art is not only shown, but also collectively thought, discussed and experienced. The history of the house — a place of work, encounter and experimentation — continues to shape its atmosphere today: flexible, curious and approachable.

As a new art venue, MITTE37 aims to present positions in painting, collage, mixed media, installation and photography, bringing together regional artists as well as international guests. Upcoming exhibitions will highlight the space as a transformable laboratory: at times an atelier, at times a stage, at times a place for conversations, workshops or spontaneous artistic interventions.

A central goal is to establish MITTE37 as a platform for interdisciplinary exchange. Artists from Burgdorf and other cities are invited to come together here to engage in dialogue about perception, materiality, body–space relations, media critique and social themes. Projects such as this exhibition mark an international orientation that will be continued and deepened in the coming years. Future exhibitions will increasingly explore questions of transformation, movement, identity and encounter. MITTE37 seeks to make art tangible as a shared experience — open, process-oriented and dialogue-driven. In this way, a place emerges that not only presents art, but enables it: a space that reinvents itself with every exhibition while carrying forward its history as a creative center of the city.

Contact: 
Kunstraum MITTE37, Mittelstraße 37, 31303 Burgdorf / Hanover, Germany
info@mitte37.de
www.mitte37.de 
Susanne Schumacher
Tel.: 05136 7321

Trees in Art – Symbolism and Sustainability

Trees as Memory, Myth, and Future

Trees are more than living organisms. They hold stories, carry myths, offer shelter, reflection, and inspiration. They remind us of change and resilience, of deep roots and fragile ecosystems.

This international exhibition project invites artists and writers to rediscover the tree as a creative partner — as symbol, metaphor, and a spark for sustainable thinking and poetic imagination.

Invitation to Participate

We welcome visual and literary works dedicated to a single type of tree.

Choose one tree from a list rich in cultural, poetic, and mythological meaning — from Goethe’s ginkgo to Shakespeare’s mulberry, from the oak of the Minnesingers to the Joshua Tree.

Your contribution should be:

• Portrait format (2:3 ratio)

• 300 dpi JPG (or PDF)

• Any medium: painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, photography, digital art, poetry, or experimental digital forms submitted by email.

Examples of Tree Choices

Ginkgo (Goethe) · Linden (folk songs, Müller) · Walnut (Hikmet) · Willow (Heine) · Oak (Hölderlin) · Cedar (U2) · Tree of Life (Hesse) · Redwood / Sequoia (R.E.M., Van Morrison) · Chestnut (Gryphius, Eichendorff, Nick Drake) · Magnolia (Bachmann, Billie Holiday, Tom Petty, Brittany Howard) · Fir / Christmas Tree (Andersen) · Mulberry (Shakespeare) · Joshua Tree (U2)

This diversity invites personal, poetic, ecological, political, or experimental perspectives.

Documentation

The exhibitions will be accompanied by press releases and social media features. This is not a commercial sales show. After the exhibitions, all works will remain with the organizer and be archived — forming a growing, living memory of the project.

Participation Terms

By participating, artists agree that:

• Their work may be published in the context of the exhibitions and documentation (print, online, press, social media).

• The organizer receives the rights to publish the work within this project.

• The submitted work remains permanently with the organizer and will be archived.

• Participation is free of charge.

Organization

Submission deadline: July 31, 2026  

Organizer: Lars Schumacher  

Email: larsschumacher [at] okok .de  

Submission: digital only by email  

Exhibition venues: Burgdorf and Berlin

A Personal Invitation

As part of your participation, we warmly encourage you to plant or sow something yourself — a seed, a tree, a small gesture of growth.

Let your artistic contribution be accompanied by a living act of care.

All seed‑ and plant‑related experiences will be documented on larsschumacher.art.

FAQ

Can I submit more than one artwork?  

Please focus on one single tree — the project is built around an intimate portrait of one chosen tree.

Is the 2:3 portrait format mandatory?  

Yes, it ensures consistent presentation across all venues and documentation.

What file size is allowed?  

A standard JPG at 300 dpi is ideal. If the file is very large, you may compress it slightly.

Can I send a PDF instead of JPG?  

Please send JPG only, as it integrates best into the workflow.

Can I photograph a physical artwork?  

Yes — any medium is welcome. A high‑quality photograph is perfectly fine.

Do I have to choose a tree from the list?  

No — the list is inspiration. Any tree with cultural, poetic, ecological, or personal meaning is welcome.

Can my work be abstract or conceptual?  

Absolutely.

May I include text or poetry inside the image?  

Yes — hybrid forms are welcome.

Is there a maximum length for poetry?  

A single page works best.

Will I receive a confirmation?  

Yes — a short confirmation email will be sent near the deadline.

Can I participate after July 31?  

Small extensions are possible; please write briefly.

Where will the exhibitions take place?  

In Burgdorf and Berlin, with additional online documentation.

Do I keep the copyright?  

Yes — you retain full copyright.

Why does the artwork remain with the organizer?  

The project forms a long‑term archive, not a commercial sales exhibition.

Will my work be sold?  

No.

Do I have to plant something?  

It is voluntary but warmly encouraged.

How do I document my planting experience?  

A short note where you plant or seed or photo by email is enough.

Will my work appear on social media?  

Yes — selected works will be featured.

Will there be a catalogue?  

Digital documentation of the exhibition is planned; a printed catalogue is not planned.

Why Participate?

Participating in this project means becoming part of a growing, living archive dedicated to trees as symbols of memory, imagination, and ecological awareness. Your contribution joins an international collection connecting artistic voices across cultures, disciplines, and generations. It is an opportunity to explore a single tree as a poetic partner — to reflect on roots, myths, landscapes, and personal stories. The exhibitions in Burgdorf and Berlin offer your work a thoughtful, visible context. Planting something yourself adds a gentle gesture of care, linking artistic expression with a real moment of growth. Your participation enriches a collective memory that will continue to grow and inspire others.

Why is this call so detailed?

This call is intentionally more extensive than traditional mail art invitations. It opens a shared space of reflection, care, and ecological imagination. The detailed text provides clarity from the beginning and reflects experiences from previous projects, where communication often required more time than creating the artwork itself. The invitation to plant something adds a unique, tangible dimension. In essence, the text is part of the concept — it frames the intention and welcomes every contribution that carries the idea further into the world.

Global Mail Art and the Poetry of Growth

At the intersection of artistic creation and ecological awakening, the PLANT AND SEED Mail Art initiative stands as a poetic yet powerful act. Initiated by German artist Lars Schumacher, this open call reaches beyond borders, inviting participants across the globe to sow a seed, plant a tree, and create artwork inspired by this living gesture.

Rooted in the Mail Art movement—an art form born from the Fluxus and Dada traditions that prizes accessibility, participation, and non-commercial exchange—the project transforms the simple act of planting into a conceptual catalyst. Each submission becomes a convergence point: the biological and the aesthetic, the physical and the symbolic.

Artists were asked to document their act of planting: the species of seed or tree, the date it was planted, and its geographical coordinates. In response, they created five works in the format of DIN A4 or 20×30 cm—works imagined not in isolation, but as creative extensions of germination itself. These were submitted both digitally and physically, with the physical works explicitly marked “no commercial value”—a gentle yet pointed reminder of the project’s ethos: art as offering, not commodity.

Historically, collage and mail art have long operated on the fringes of institutionalized culture, offering alternative spaces for visual dialogue. But PLANT AND SEED adds an urgent new layer to this legacy—an environmental consciousness that doesn’t preach, but grows. In an era defined by disconnection from nature and accelerating climate crisis, this project celebrates slowness, care, and planetary kinship. It is not just about images on paper; it’s about making art with the earth, not just about it.

The submissions were first showcased in a digital screen exhibition at Kunstmarkt Burgdorf (September 1, 2019), followed by a dedicated studio exhibition in Hannover. But even beyond gallery walls, the project leaves behind invisible installations—planted gestures scattered across the globe. Trees growing in South America, seeds sprouting in Europe, and paper trails of inspiration meandering through postal systems—all now part of a collective archive of attention and action.

In this way, PLANT AND SEED is both artwork and ecosystem. It invites us to recognize that each planted seed is a political gesture, a hope inscribed in soil, and each artwork is a record of that intention. As the climate conversation deepens, projects like this remind us that creative acts, however small, can take root in profound ways—artistically, ecologically, globally.

A Fluxus-Inspired Global Art Project Blossoms in Burgdorf

On the occasion of the KUNSTMARKT in Burgdorf on September 1st, 2019, the PLANT AND SEED project unfolds as a poetic and participatory exhibition in the KUNST SCHAU FENSTER of Petrick Moden, Marktstraße 3. Curated by Burgdorf-based artist Lars Schumacher, this Fluxus-inspired art action brings together 15 international artists from the USA, Canada, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Taiwan, Japan, and Germany.

At the heart of the project lies a simple yet profound call: “Plant a tree or seed something beautiful. Create art in the spirit of your planting. Document the plant type, the date, and the coordinates. Send your artistic response.” More than 150 seeds and plants have since been sowed around the globe—each one paired with a creative act born of care, place, and poetic intention.

The contributions range from visual artworks to conceptual gestures, all echoing the core idea of growth, renewal, and interconnectedness. PLANT AND SEED functions as a living social sculpture—an artwork not confined to gallery walls, but rooted in soil and community. The exhibition, freely viewable 24 hours a day through the shopfront showcase, continues until October 3rd, 2019.

Participating artists include: Ali Asker Bal · Beşir Bayar · Sabela Baña · Mirta Caccaro · Susan Gold · Rosa Gravino · Aaron Morgan · Darja Mrdjen · Maya Lopez Muro · Keiichi Nakamura · Niniji · Lars Schumacher · Susanne Schumacher · Sait Toprak · İbrahim Yildiz: The seeds have been planted—both literally and metaphorically. Now, the art grows.