49th BIENNIAL OF VENICE

The Kinderbaum ("Children's Tree", a Swiss foundation for the welfare of children around the world) as well as the GLOBAL-HELI-ART-TOUR were first presented to the general public upon invitation of the director of the 49th Venice Biennale. 

A fine exhibition space was put at the disposal of the of the Kinderbaum project, which was situated between internationally recognized artists Vanessa Beecroft and Richard Serra. At the opening of the Biennale, there were more than 8.000 journalists from around the world, who were decisive in introducing the project for the first time to the international public.

The founder of the children's tree foundation, Michael Schmitz, along with three welders and some other friends, created with their own hands a leafless tree of steel, which was 18 meters tall, 8 meters deep and 6 meters wide. The artists chose the tree as a symbol for their work since it represents life, hope and protection to many cultures around the world.

The first symbolic contributions to the Kinderbaum Foundation were donations that were attached as leaves to the Kinderbaum, the "Children's Tree," which, in this manner, flourished to full bloom throughout the Biennale.

In the middle of the children's tree Michael Schmitz placed his personal helicopter, putting it at the disposal of the project for the whole duration of the Biennale. With the helicopter, Schmitz plans to promote the project all over the world and to collect other artworks for the foundation.

( more in "GLOBAL-HELI-ART-TOUR").

Finally, I would like to thank Harald Szeemann once again, director of the Venice Biennale, for his trust on me.


La Fondazione Kinderbaum e anche il Globel-Heli-Art-Tour sono stati presentati ufficialmente alla Biennale di Venezia nell’anno 2001 con invito del direttore di allora Harald Szeemann che mise a disposizione del Dr. Michael Schmitz la metà di un intero padiglione. L’opera di Schmitz non solo ebbe l’onore di essere inserita fra le opere d’arte dei rinomati artisti Richard Serra e Vanessa Beecroft ma inizialmente fu esposta davanti ad un vasto pubblico con più di 8.000 giornalisti.

L’opera d’arte creata da Schmitz ed alcuni suoi amici era un elicottero di 10m piazzato fra i rami di un albero d’accaio senza foglie di 18 x 8 x 6m. L’idea fu quella di associare la Fondazione all’immagine di un albero d’acciaio senza foglie sul quale fu appoggiato l’elicottero del dott. Schmitz come se fosse un nido.
L’artista scelse l’albero come simbolo per il loro lavoro che rappresenta la vita, la speranza e la protezione per tante culture nel mondo. Ogni donazione popolava l’albero di una nuova foglia a simboleggiare la crescita della Fondazione Kinderbaum- l’albero dei bambini.