This painting, titled „Baumherz“ (Tree Heart), began with a gift — a hand-crafted wooden frame made with great care by carpenter and family friend Josef Zöchbauer. The frame itself is a unique piece of art. The natural grain, the visible age rings, and the raw edges of the frame carry within them the memory and presence of the tree it once was.
The vision for this piece emerged on a clear winter’s day in a snowy landscape. As I leaned against a tree, feeling the warm rays of the sun, my awareness drifted inward — into the quiet, glowing heart of the tree. I sensed not only the life pulsing through its rings but also a hidden world, sheltered deep at its core.
In this vision, two squirrels rest peacefully in a nest, cradled by moss, ferns, and the subtle richness of the forest floor. Above them, vines heavy with wild berries weave a gentle arch, while around them, the forest offers its abundance: mushrooms sprouting from decaying wood, scattered nuts tucked between roots and leaves — all the gifts that provide nourishment and sustain life through the seasons. The scene also speaks of a deeper nourishment: the shelter of the tree itself, the warmth of the earth, and the quiet pulse of belonging that runs through all living things.
At the center, a seed glows — the tree’s origin. It reminds us of the miracle of life, which begins small and unfolds into something vast and mighty. And it reminds us, too that within each of us lies an origin — a formless core from which our true nature can grow and unfold.