Art. Ecological Sustainability. History. A Collective Memorial for the Region.
Living Memory – 400 Trees for Freedom and Justice
Art. Ecological Sustainability. History. A Collective Memorial for the Region.
How do we remember historical events, and what can we learn from them for our future? The “Living Memory” project connects regional history with ecological responsibility for the future and performative art. At its heart lies the commemoration of the Upper Austrian Peasant Revolt of 1626 and the tragic Battle of Emlinger Holz in Alkoven.
Instead of a static monument, we are together creating a growing, living memorial: 400 native trees will be planted across the region – as a symbol of courage, freedom, solidarity, and a healthy ecosystem.
The Experience: The Performance Walk
Planting the trees becomes a shared, sensory experience. On a guided walk through the historic landscape, we will be accompanied by:
- Soundscapes: Music performed by brass musicians, accordion, and choir.
- Words & Silence: Recited texts alternate with moments of pause and reflection.
- Taking Action: The collective tree planting literally brings memory “out of the ground” and anchors it in the present day.
The walk symbolizes the arduous journey of the local population during the Peasant Revolt and invites us to reflect on contemporary societal conflicts, civil courage, and peaceful ways of living together.
The Trees: Roots for the Future
We are predominantly planting climate-resilient native tree species such as pedunculate oaks and linden trees:
- The Pedunculate Oak represents resilience and strength. It provides a habitat for over 400 insect species as well as birds and mammals.
- The Linden Tree symbolizes peace, community, and protection. Its blossoms are a valuable source of nectar for bees and pollinators.
By doing so, we are not only investing in our collective memory, but also sustainably strengthening the regional ecosystem, biodiversity, and local climate.
An Artwork to Take Home
As a token of appreciation and a connecting element, every participant will receive a unique piece of art: a concrete cube (approx. 5 x 5 cm) deformed under immense pressure in a testing facility. The crushed cube makes the hardness and pressure of the historical events tangible, transforming this historical upheaval into an aesthetic object of remembrance.
Join Us!
The project welcomes all generations – from young to old. It invites us to build bridges between the past and the future and to take joint responsibility for our nature and a fair society.
- When & Where: November 8th | 12:00 PM at the Sallaberger Family – Inn 26, 4070 Eferding
- Participation: Free of charge. Please wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
“Bringing Memory Out of the Ground”
Historical remembrance is not a static review of the past, but a dynamic, living dialogue between past, present, and future. With the project “Living Memory – 400 Trees for Freedom and Justice,” we dedicate ourselves to one of the most traumatic chapters in Upper Austrian regional history: the Battle of Emlinger Holz on November 9, 1626.
The realization that thousands of people clashed at this very location exactly 400 years ago, with an estimated 6,000 losing their lives, leaves us with a fundamental question: What kind of collective trauma shapes a region across centuries—and how does this silence or storytelling echo into our society today?
This project does not aim to freeze memory in rigid stone. We choose the symbol of the tree—the pedunculate oak and the linden—as a living monument. A tree roots deeply in the soil of the past, grows steadily in the present, and protects life in the future. The 400 trees symbolically represent courage and the pursuit of justice, while their ecological function underscores the urgency of our actions today.
In the performative walk, space, sound, movement, and action merge. Music, text fragments, and deliberate silence make despair, the spirit of resistance, and the longing for peace tangible. The crushed concrete cube—which every participant receives as a piece of art—makes physical force and historical pressure perceptible, yet transposes them into a form of artistic transformation.
With this initiative, we want to open a space: A space to commemorate the victims of oppression, but above all, a space to ask ourselves: Where do we need courage today to stand up for human dignity and a just, sustainable world?