Trees in the monumental garden of the Capodimonte Museum, Naples (2019)
From an early age, Urs Burki felt a deep affinity with nature — both a source of vitality and of creative inspiration. Working outdoors, whether as an artist or as a surgeon, embodied for him the essence of intellectual freedom, as is described in this document (in German).
Trees, in particular, held a special meaning: they were sources of strength, companions, confidants, and at times even collaborators in his art. The plaster casts he made of their roots became integral parts of his 2015 sculptures named The Sorceress, Daphne, and Eurydice. A series of unusual works emerged from rhythmically rubbing bare canvas against charred tree trunks.
During a visit to the historic gardens of the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Naples in January 2019, and after discussions with the museum’s director, Rosmarie Burki-Weibel decided to cover the costs of maintaining and urgently restoring ten monumental, centuries-old trees, as well as funding the planting of a young golden rain tree (Laburnum). Each tree received a commemorative plaque bearing a phrase composed by Rosmarie Burki-Weibel, such as:
“A tree is like a king. You must wait until it speaks to you”, “The tree teaches you to give freely and to receive with gratitude”, or “Generosity gives meaning to your life”.