This young fly agaric (Amanita muscaria, L.) shines on the forest floor with its beautiful colours. It quietly tells the story of the deal it made with the trees above him. Trade it is. Receive sugars, give minerals. It knows that without this deal, the trees should be as big as the agaric itself. Do we enter the domain of politics here?
Bibliography
Kruf, J. (2023) Young Fly Agaric [fine art print]. Breda: Private collection.
This beech leaf shows that autumn is coming. It is time the tree sends a warm thanks to the leaf for the offered services last spring and autumn. It is now time to say goodbye.
Bibliography
Kruf, J. (2023) Autumn Beech Leaf [fine art print]. Breda: Private collection.
The Acacia at Sossusvlei almost disappears in Namibia’s vast and high landscape of sand dunes (more giant than the Eiffel Tower).
Bibliography
Kruf, J. Â (2006) Desert Dimensions. Breda: Private collection.
Op deze koude dag (20 graden onder nul), Halsteren, 9 januari 2009, overleed mijn vader. Terug naar huis dus in het landschap van mijn jeugd, daar waar wij ooit in de zee zwommen, speelden en lachten. Ik probeer met alles wat ik heb de wind te vangen in mijn thuisland, maar alles lijkt bevroren. De wereld staat stil, volledig.Â
Bibliography
Kruf, J. (2009) Dimensie van het leven [fine art print]. Breda: Privécollectie.
“Trees are the main players in the Empire of the Sun.” This is what friend (professor) Roelof Oldeman told me in the summer of 2022, driving at walking speed through the forests of the Veluwe some weeks before he passed away. He continued: “We should consider them as such and treat them with grace, dignity and respect. Without them, we will be lost.” Wisdom it is.
Many trees and forests are under immense pressure due to human expansion with related lousy governance and management. We need to remind ourselves – from the perspective of ‘hope’, i.e. the idea of a better world with internal high inner connection and involvement (Cornel West) (in contrast with optimism) – Â that nature is much bigger than us: the tree is dead, long live the tree!
In Deadvlei, these proud acacias still stand. They are believed to have died 600–700 years ago due to changes in river flow, drifting sand dunes and medieval climate changes. They are silent reminders of my dear friend’s noble thoughts and considerations. I found this one in my notebook from our travels through Namibia in 2003 and repainted it.
Bibliography
Kruf, J.P. (2022) The tree is dead, long live the tree! [fine are print]. Breda: Private collection.
Kruf Huyssons 