The Oak Tree
Michael Craig-Martin 1973
An Oak Tree is a conceptual work of art created by Michael Craig-Martin in 1973. In his work, the artist claims that his sculpture of a glass of water has been transformed into an oak tree. Craig-Martin’s text deliberately asserts the impossible, so it comes with no surprise that it was received with valid pushback and complaints such as ’”haven’t you just simply called this glass of water an oak tree?” and “but the oak tree only exists in the mind.”
One of the biggest questions about the work is whether or not the glass of water is simply just a symbolic assertion of an oak tree? What comes as the most satisfying aspect and biggest surprise to this work is that the answer is no. He asserts Oak Tree is not a symbol and that he has changed the physical substance of the glass of water into that of an oak tree.
“An Oak Tree is based on the concept of transubstantiation, the notion central to the Catholic faith in which it is believed that bread and wine are converted into the body and blood of Christ while retaining their appearances of bread and wine.” This type of seeing (and knowing) is at the heart of conceptual thinking processes, by which intellectual and emotional values are conferred on images and objects. If God can say the wafers and wine are body and blood, then shouldn’t artists, as creators and gods of their own work, have the authority to imbue said works with whatever meaning they choose? Shouldn’t critics and visitors, like Catholics lining up for communion, have faith that a cup of water does indeed have some deeper meaning? Shouldn’t they believe that it’s art?
Secondly An Oak Tree deconstructs transubstantiation demonstrating that the belief of both artist and viewer has significant power over the formation of art, and in fact belief can be understood as the most basic and essential element of art. At least in this example of conceptual art. Craig-Martin considered the work of art to demonstrate the confident faith of the artist in his capacity to speak and the willing faith of the viewer in accepting what he has to say.
Disclaimer: The italicized text is not my own writing. For further information about the text please visit https://shareart0019.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/an-oak-tree/ and https://www.artspace.com/magazine/interviews_features/book_report/turning-water-into-an-oak-tree-michael-craig-martin-discusses-performing-a-miraculous-act-of-55188
