Superhero Trees

April 2020, Isle of Skye, Highlands, Scotland

According to the Scottish Crofting Federation and its woodland team it is exceedingly difficult to grow fruit trees on Isle of Skye, due to the extreme climatic condition. As well as the weather there are other obstacles, such as deer.

Woodland Trust professionals.

As a child I read about a gardener who was looking to find a resilient tree to grow in uncertain conditions somewhere in Russia, so I have decided to do the same in the Scottish Highlands during these uncertain COVID-19 times.

Book 'Jablon' (Apple Tree) by Nikolaj Smirnov.

I have already experienced deer herd invasions, so I have been looking at ways to defend these fragile apple trees.

When I shared a photo of these trees protected with bin bags as deer scarers, a friend of mine said that they look like superheroes. That gave me the idea that they are superheroes!

The white bin bags are giving this tree superheroe's wings.

The apple tree is just about to blossom.

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Looking To Be Safe & Sound

This is a reworked unpublished photo essay created in a time of crisis in late 2008 by Lukas Kroulik - brought back in the face of the 2020 pandemic. It drew on PROTECT AND SURVIVE: a booklet prepared for the Home Office by the Central Office of Information in 1980, aimed at the general public describing "how to make your home and your family as safe as possible under nuclear attack."

'It did not happen' photo collage by Lukas Kroulik.

'Hiding from the worst' photo collage by Lukas Kroulik.

'Precious or essential?' photo collage by Lukas Kroulik.

'Take cover!' photo collage by Lukas Kroulik.

Lukas has always been looking for places and spaces where he had felt safe and sound. He styled, made-up and photographed his fashion model to fit his own safe and familiar space, as recommended by the emergency booklet.

Video of an Artist at a Time of Crisis - Styled and Directed by Lukas Kroulik

26th March 2020, SAAS Gallery, Chelsea, London

Lukas Kroulik curated this multidisciplinary exhibition for artist Frederique Feder. Here on video the artist talks to her long dead parents at the gallery space reflecting on her childhood challenges that she never got the chance to talk through with her parents. She is captured by a student called HoHo from the famous London College of Communication, mentored by Lukas to practise his skills and also to contribute to the charity this exhibition was supporting and publicising.

Lukas Kroulik, curator, seen overlooking the art objects flying out of the artist's bag