Magic.

Seven Wonders of the World were known in Classical Antiquity, but today the UNESCO has counted more than 900 World Heritage Sites which are masterpieces of human architecture and huge monuments of nature.

For the first time in an exhibition, “Magic Places” is showing the wonders of nature and culture together - as equally significant creations of our planet. “Magic Places” leads us to the unique monuments in which the history of our Earth comes to life in all its wonderful variety. “Magic Places”, that is our world heritage in its wondrous diversity to which the yearning and the joy of discovery of every generation is repeatedly orientated anew.

In Oberhausen’s Gasometer, Europe’s tallest exhibition hall, the 40 metre-high sculpture of a rain forest tree is currently being produced. The crown of the artistically recreated primeval forest giant alone has a diameter of 25 metres and weighs almost two and a half tons. It has now been completed as the first section and raised. The tree sculpture is the artistic climax of the forthcoming exhibition “Magic Places” which leads its visitors to the Earth’s great natural and cultural heritage sites and makes their creative forces come alive.

“The sculpture of this “Tree of Life” stands at the centre of the industrial monument and likewise stands for the greatness and sublimity of nature – as well as for its vulnerability ", says its creator, the internationally well-known artist and photographer Wolfgang Volz. As a curator, Volz has already handled several projects in the Oberhausen Gasometer, including the "biggest moon on Earth" within the scope of the exhibition "Out of this World " in 2009/10 as well as in 1999 "The Wall" for Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The sculpture of the rain forest tree will, as part of the “Magic Places” exhibition, be framed by a sound and light installation. The setting-up of the tree is a challenge from the logistic and also construction points of view and will probably take until the end of February.

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