Native Bankside Christmas Tree: A Nostalgic Tapestry of The Thames
Photography by Rebecca Hope
You might as well dub me 'Vendequm,' the ancient term for an Elf, because come Christmas, that's exactly what I morph into. I leave a trail of glitter wherever I tread—stop for a moment, and behold, a glass bauble sprouts to commemorate my journey. Holly emerges from pavement cracks, and mistletoe materialises above my head. I'm a walking, talking spreader of holiday joy. As you've likely gathered, I'm Christmas' biggest fan. So, when a brand like Native Places knocks on my door to design their Christmas Tree, I pounce on them faster than Santa's reindeer gobbles a bowl of magical hay.
And the brief? To conjure up a magical tree that goes all out, transporting guests back in time. The result is 'A Nostalgic Tapestry of the Thames', a festive installation that defies traditional decorations and whisks viewers into a bygone era. This tree is essentially a magical manifestation of yours truly!
The core of the tree? Recycled steel, standing tall at a whopping 12 feet, adorned with plasma-cut, hand-engraved snow wings.
I began to dream up the design, picturing an uproarious mishmash of nostalgic memories, a symphony of historical Christmases thrown together. After all, everyone has those Christmas memories—the cherished objects, the special ornaments—that take you back like a time-hop. What if we collected all these precious pieces that jog them memory, assembled them on a tree and called it art? This is what I’ve conjured up for Native Places.
Photography by Rebecca Hope
Sustainability took centre stage in the construction of this towering spectacle. The core of the tree? Recycled steel, standing tall at a whopping 12 feet, adorned with plasma-cut, hand-engraved snow wings. Each item hanging proudly on the branches is handpicked for its authenticity and provenance—antique treasures and family heirlooms, each with a story to tell. It's like a Christmas museum on a tree branch.
And for the sweetest touch, a cuddly rabbit with metal cymbals from 1895, still in working order.
At the tree's summit, the Golden Hinde sails proudly, guided by a searchlight, its rope cascading down like a festive waterfall. Shakespeare makes an appearance, a hand-carved figure from the 1890s standing tall next to a plate celebrating the illustrious Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Paying homage to Bankside and Borough Market, antique food cans make an appearance—ginger, cornflour, Marmite cubes, Cadbury Milk Tray (a Christmas staple), and Harrogate Toffee—all surviving the test of time. Keep your eyes peeled for the Tate and Lyle Food Van, a nod to the Tate Modern Gallery's delicious origins before it got all artsy. And for the sweetest touch, a cuddly rabbit with metal cymbals from 1895, still in working order.
Behold, my magnum opus—the Christmas tree to end all Christmas trees! This installation isn't your run-of-the-mill holiday shrubbery. Oh no, it's a living testament to Native Places' commitment to sustainability, wrapped up in a local Christmas time-capsule. I figured, why settle for the usual ho-ho-ho when you can have the kind of meaningful extravaganza onlookers can’t take their eyes of? Go, and see the installation until early January 2024 at Native Bankside.
‘A Nostalgic Tapestry of the Thames’ can be found in the lobby of Native Bankside, for more information please visit their website.