{"id":450455,"date":"2025-02-17T08:48:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T14:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?p=450455"},"modified":"2025-02-17T10:19:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T16:19:15","slug":"charles-gaines-tanzania-baobabs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/charles-gaines-tanzania-baobabs\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles Gaines Maps the Meanings of Ancient Baobab Trees in Meticulous Charts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1498\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-9.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a grayscale tree layered atop a blue and purple numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it. a plexiglass layer sits atop it all\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-9.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-9-640x479.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-9-960x719.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-9-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-9-1536x1150.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #4, Maasai&#8221;\n(2024), \nacrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen. All images \u00a9 Charles Gaines, courtesy the artist and Hauser &#038; Wirth, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Charles Gaines Maps the Meanings of Ancient Baobab Trees in Meticulous Charts<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-02-17T08:48:57-06:00\">February 17, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/gebert\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Grace Ebert<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\"><li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; 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\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Charles%20Gaines%20Maps%20the%20Meanings%20of%20Ancient%20Baobab%20Trees%20in%20Meticulous%20Charts&#038;body=Charles%20Gaines%20Maps%20the%20Meanings%20of%20Ancient%20Baobab%20Trees%20in%20Meticulous%20Charts%20&mdash;%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2025%2F02%2Fcharles-gaines-tanzania-baobabs%2F\" aria-label=\"Email\"  class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M20,4H4C2.895,4,2,4.895,2,6v12c0,1.105,0.895,2,2,2h16c1.105,0,2-0.895,2-2V6C22,4.895,21.105,4,20,4z M20,8.236l-8,4.882 L4,8.236V6h16V8.236z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"450455\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\" style=\"\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\" style=\"\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the 1970s, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hauserwirth.com\/artists\/21845-charles-gaines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Charles Gaines<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/charles-gaines\/\">previously<\/a>) has been charting the sprawling, unpredictable forms of trees onto numbered grids. He began with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artic.edu\/artworks\/239634\/walnut-tree-orchard-set-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">walnut trees<\/a> in 1975, which he photographed while barren and then plotted onto hand-drawn graph paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A leader in the Conceptual Art movement, Gaines&#8217; works ask viewers to explore the relationships between what something appears to be and what it means as it shifts from one context to the next. He also argues for a greater divide between subjectivity and aesthetics, instead emphasizing culture&#8217;s immense role in shaping our experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-4-960x720.jpg\" alt=\"a detail of a grayscale tree layered atop a colorful numbered grid\" class=\"wp-image-450460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-4-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-4-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-4-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-4-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-4.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #4, Maasai&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen\u2028<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In his ongoing <em>Numbers and Trees<\/em> series, Gaines continues to chart differences. During a 2023 visit to Tanzania, the artist photographed majestic baobabs, which form the basis for a collection of triptychs that entwine the magnificent specimens with colorfully numbered grids. Gnarled trunks and spindly offshoots both layer atop and are masked by Gaines&#8217; sequences, all viewed through sheets of plexiglass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The baobab is known as &#8220;the tree of life&#8221; for its longevity, myriad roles in preserving the savanna ecosystem, and ability to host entire habitats within its canopies. The specimens are often associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2022\/02\/beth-moon-baobab\/\">folklore and myth<\/a> and in the era of climate disaster, are some of the casualties of unrelenting drought. Depending on location, epoch, and community, the trees can serve a wide array of purposes and hold a multitude of symbolism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Icons of the African continent, baobabs also connect to histories of colonialism and slavery. In this context, they&#8217;re distorted and mediated by both Gaines&#8217; organizing principles and the acrylic panes. &#8220;What you bring to the image, adds to the image,&#8221; the artist says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Numbers and Trees, The Tanzania Baobabs<\/em> is on view from February 19 to May 24 at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hauserwirth.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hauser &amp; Wirth<\/a> West Hollywood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-8-960x717.jpg\" alt=\"a grayscale tree layered atop a pink and purple numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it. a plexiglass layer sits atop it all\" class=\"wp-image-450464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-8-960x717.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-8-640x478.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-8-768x574.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-8-1536x1147.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-8.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #7, Makonde&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Keith Lubow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1056\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-10-960x1056.jpg\" alt=\"a detail of a grayscale tree layered atop a pink and purple numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it\" class=\"wp-image-450466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-10-960x1056.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-10-640x704.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-10-768x845.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-10-1396x1536.jpg 1396w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-10-1862x2048.jpg 1862w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-10.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #7, Makonde&#8221; (2024), 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Keith Lubow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"715\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-6-960x715.jpg\" alt=\"a grayscale tree layered atop a yellow and blue numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it. a plexiglass layer sits atop it all\" class=\"wp-image-450462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-6-960x715.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-6-640x477.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-6-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-6-1536x1144.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-6.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #3, Tongwe&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-3-960x720.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-450459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-3-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-3-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-3.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #3, Tongwe&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-5-960x721.jpg\" alt=\"a grayscale tree layered atop a blue numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it. a plexiglass layer sits atop it all\" class=\"wp-image-450461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-5-960x721.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-5-640x481.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-5-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-5-1536x1154.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-5.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #2, Zanaki&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Keith Lubow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-2-960x720.jpg\" alt=\"Detail of a a grayscale tree layered atop a blue numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it\" class=\"wp-image-450458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-2-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-2-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #2, Zanaki&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Keith Lubow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"714\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-11-960x714.jpg\" alt=\"a grayscale tree layered atop a blue, purple, and green numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it. a plexiglass layer sits atop it all\" class=\"wp-image-450467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-11-960x714.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-11-640x476.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-11-768x571.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-11-1536x1143.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-11.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #5, Rangi&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-7-960x1280.jpg\" alt=\"Detail of a a grayscale tree layered atop a blue and purple  numbered grid with a shadow of a tree printed on it\" class=\"wp-image-450463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-7-960x1280.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-7-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-7-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-7-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-7-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gaines-7-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #5, Rangi&#8221; (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1\/4 x 5 3\/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gnarled trunks and spindly offshoots both layer atop and are masked by Gaines&#8217; sequences, all viewed through sheets of plexiglass.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":291,"featured_media":450465,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[493,3045,496],"tags":[2287,110,126],"class_list":["post-450455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-nature","category-photography","tag-charles-gaines","tag-painting","tag-trees"],"acf":{"acf_sponsor_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Charles Gaines Maps the Meanings of Ancient Baobab Trees in Meticulous Charts &#8212; 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