Populus Tremula, 2003

Each year Tate Britain asks a different artist to create a Christmas Tree. This year, Mark Wallinger has installed a large, bare aspen tree in the gallery, and dressed it with about 500 mass-produced, lightly-scented, Catholic rosaries. Mark Wallinger’s Christmas Tree was on display at Tate Britain from 12 December 2003 until 6 January 2004.

Wallinger’s work is distinguished by its engagement with issues of spirituality and faith, and its use of historical reference points. According to legend, it was wood from the aspen tree (populus tremula) that was used to make the cross on which Christ was crucified. Rosaries are designed to assist in meditative prayer. Wallinger’s tree thus combines strongly symbolic elements, redolent of death, rebirth and ritual. These may be seen as disrupting or enhancing the conventional imagery of Christmas celebration.

Press Release.