The Tree of Life and Abundance
- Artist: Abel Rodríguez
- Date: 2020
- Medium: Ink, gouache and graphite on paper
- Dimensions: support: 1509 × 1498 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “The Tree of Life and Abundance” by Abel Rodríguez. Created in 2020 with ink, gouache and graphite on paper, the piece invites you to think about growth, interconnectedness and abundance. Rodríguez, a contemporary Latin‑American artist, layers translucent washes of color with sharp graphite lines, creating a tree whose roots and branches ripple across the page like an organic map. The work feels both grounded and expansive, echoing the idea that life’s roots reach deep into the earth while its leaves stretch toward the sky. It’s a long‑term loan courtesy of the Tate Americas Foundation, bringing a fresh perspective to the space. Notice how the lightness of the gouache lets the ink and graphite stand out, giving the tree a delicate, almost luminous quality. It’s a reminder that abundance isn’t just material; it’s also the richness of connections that weave us together.
See it in person
The Tree of Life and Abundance is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
