84.1 x 59.4 cm, Edition of 6 + 1 AP
48.3 x 32.9 cm, Edition of 6 + 1 AP
In The Guru, an ancient lime tree sits in meditation, its disciples gathered within metres of each other — standing firmly, exuding calm and a quiet fearlessness.
"Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life."
Hermann Hesse, Bäume: Betrachtungen und Gedichte
Wingfield has returned to these trees many times over the years. They have become teachers and companions, guiding her through the noise of modern life and towards a quality of inner stillness.
The camera's low viewpoint tells of their magnitude. In each image the eye is led upwards as though we crouch in a position of reverence — our vision deliberately constrained, the trees too great to be seen in their entirety.
Rendered in black and white, the photographs carry a visual calm distanced from the glare of daily life. The close-ups of their sturdy, sculptural trunks radiate inner strength. The bark reads like an old manuscript, scarred by knots and galls that bear memories of struggles endured throughout a long earthly journey. The roots reach into the depths of the earth, infusing life through a steady pulse that rises from the ground.
In dialogue with the writings of Hermann Hesse, The Guru reflects on the ancient wisdom held within the natural world.