Mollycoddler

In 2011, a striking artwork appeared on the Heemraadsplein in Rotterdam: a tree wrapped in a ‘coat’ made of wooden planks. This work, titled Mollycoddler, was created by New Zealand artist Regan Gentry and realized as part of the international project Make a Forest, in the context of the International Year of Forests.

Normally, trees are temporarily protected with wooden coverings during construction work. In this case, however, that protective layer was elevated to art. The wooden coat fully enveloped the tree and became a tender, almost exaggerated attempt to nurture it — just as the title suggests: “mollycoddle” means to overprotect or to pamper.

With this work, Gentry wanted to highlight the special role of trees and the importance of giving them space — both literally and figuratively — within the city. Mothership acted as curator, coordinator, and producer of the project, which was also part of an art route featuring artistic and monumental trees in Rotterdam, organized by CBK Rotterdam.