Tate Modern Oak Saplings Installation

The Challenge

In 2021, artists Ackroyd & Harvey brought one hundred living oak saplings to Tate Modern’s South Terrace as part of an installation responding to the climate emergency. The work drew on Joseph Beuys’ seminal 7000 Oaks project (1982–1987), which connected art, ecology, and activism in Kassel, Germany. From acorns collected in 2007 from Beuys’ original trees, the artists had carefully nurtured new generations of oaks. 

The challenge was to translate this symbolic act into a viable installation in an exposed urban environment. The South Terrace offered limited soil depth, harsh wind conditions, and no existing infrastructure to support sustained tree growth. The central task was to design a system that would allow these saplings to thrive for six months in temporary planters while ensuring their stability, health, and accessibility for thousands of visitors. 

The Design Solution 

We developed a tailored structural framework to securely accommodate each tree, balancing engineering precision with aesthetic sensitivity. A discreet, high-performance irrigation system was integrated to provide consistent hydration and nutrient support throughout the installation period. To create a coherent and welcoming environment, a crafted timber enclosure and carefully considered signage were introduced, combining durability with clarity of communication. 

The result was a resilient yet elegant temporary landscape that safeguarded the vitality of the saplings and amplified the artists’ vision. Situated at a moment when the public was emerging from the isolation of lockdown, the installation offered a powerful space for reflection on the intersection of art, nature, and climate awareness.