The sprawling campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru is set to have a 29-ft-tall terracotta tree, which is claimed to be the world’s tallest terracotta structure.

Bengaluru-based artist John Devaraj is trying to create the tree, titled ‘tree of life’, with the involvement of scientists and students of the university. Mr. Devaraj plans to seek entry for this structure into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The process of creating the tree of life has begun at the Indian Agricultural Science Congress, where nearly 2,000 scientists are deliberating on the theme ‘climate smart agriculture’. The creators of the tree are not only getting mud impressions of leaves from different species of trees on the university campus, but also the signatures of scientists on it. “It is like an endorsement from scientists and dignitaries that they would commit themselves to protecting farmers,” says B.N. Sathyanarayana, university Head of Horticulture Division, who is co-ordinating the artwork.

Mr. Devaraj said: “Our tree of life tries to send a message that the society will stand by farmers when the agriculture sector is going through crisis,” he says.

The artist has also come out with two paintings on either side of the entrance to the venue. While one depicts the bountifulness of nature, which was extracted by humans, the other represents a sorry state of affairs in which a farmer is being crucified to his plough.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by B S Satish Kumar / February 23rd, 2017