Tree of Life

Launching concurrently with Joy Like Time , Tree of Life by Seyi Adelekun (20 June 2026 – 30 May 2027) will be presented in the Sainsbury Centre’s East End Gallery across this season and the next. Woven from hand-dyed sisal rope, the tactile and immersive installation invites visitors to move in and around the tree’s central hollow trunk. Drawing on multiple traditions, the tree emerges as a universal symbol of the interconnectedness of all life, personal growth, the cyclical nature of existence and acts as a bridge between physical and spiritual realms. In Tree of Life , Adelekun honours the significance of trees as anchors of cultural memory, planetary health and ecological balance between the earthly and the divine. The work holds space for reflection, remembrance and reconnection with the forces that sustain life. Tree of Life was originally conceived as part of KLA ART’24 Artist-in-Residence programme, an opportunity for a UK-based artist to take part in a residency at 32° East in Kampala, Uganda and the Stuart Hall Library in London, UK and participate in KLA ART’24 in Kampala, Uganda. This programme was conceived and delivered by 32° East and Iniva and supported by the British Council. Read more Toggle Installation