No fir trees, this is the Tate
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.SOME DO-IT-YOURSELF shelving appears to have been left by workmen in the entrance hall of the Tate Gallery. But in fact this is Christmas - contemporary-art style.
The Tate has commissioned the artist Richard Wilson, 45, to create its 1998 Christmas tree. He decided that working with a conventional tree was passe, so created one "to express both the order and the chaos of Christmas".
It is formed from basic workshop-style shelving units, decorated with functional storage boxes in primary colours, reminiscent of Christmas parcels, and with bare electric bulbs housed in wire cages.
An artificial tree is suspended within the framework of the shelving. Made from metal, it is skeletal, like the shelving units, and was originally covered with glitter to make it appear festive.
Wilson was hitherto best known for his oil-tank installation, now at the Saatchi Gallery.
A Tate spokeswoman said the tree was certainly a work of art. "The result is sparely kitsch, intended to evoke both the glamour of Christmas and the empty materialism so often beneath it."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments