The Tree
In 2006 Sebastian Errazuriz, the Chilean artist, created a piece of work called “The Tree”. Consisting of a 10 metre tall Magnolia tree the piece doesn’t sound too exciting until you realise it was planted at the centre of the Chilean national football stadium.
The tree was planted for one week and the stadium opened to the public. At the end of the installation a football match was played around the tree.
This is the sort of project that can make people smile, it reminds me of some of the better works that have appeared in the Tate Modern over the last few years – no need for art to be so stuffy and boring, it should be fun!
Tate or the Tower?
It turns out that the UK has become a nation of art lovers. Over the last year (since April 2006) visitor numbers to the Tate galleries has only been beaten by Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Of the 7.7 million combined visitors to the Tate Galleries (two in London, one in St Ives and one in Liverpool) over 5 million went to the Tate Modern on the South Bank.