An Oak Tree

An Oak Tree by Michael Craig-Martin. 1973

An Oak Tree is a conceptual work of art[1] created by Michael Craig-Martin (born 1941) in 1973. The piece, described as an oak tree, is installed in two units – a pristine installation of a glass of water on a glass shelf on metal brackets 253 centimetres above the ground, and a text mounted on the wall. When first exhibited, the text was given as a handout.[2][3][4]

A full-grown oak tree

The text takes the form of a Q&A about the artwork, in which Craig-Martin describes changing "a glass of water into a full-grown oak tree without altering the accidents of the glass of water," and explains that "the actual oak tree is physically present but in the form of the glass of water." Craig-Martin considered "the work of art in such a way as to reveal its single basic and essential element, belief that is 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".[3]

The Catholic Herald compared the work to the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation and the Real Presence.[5]

The original is in the National Gallery of Australia, and an artist's copy is on loan to the Tate gallery.

  1. ^ Irish Museum of Modern Art Website Archived May 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine modernart.ie
  2. ^ Bery, Bryony. "An Oak Tree 1973: Technique and condition text", Tate, June 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  3. ^ a b Manchester, Elizabeth. "An Oak Tree 1973: Short text, Tate, December 2002. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  4. ^ "Michael Craig-Martin. An oak tree, 1973". 2002-08-06. Archived from the original on 2002-08-06. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  5. ^ "What Tate Modern teaches us about transubstantiation". Catholic Herald. 8 March 2002.