Christmas Tree installation by Studio Roso
Sophie Nielson, of Studio Roso, working on the V&A's 2011 Christmas Tree commission.
In 2011 the V&A commissioned Studio Roso to design the Museum' s Christmas tree. The V&A Christmas tree scheme was launched in 2003 with a tree designed by Alexander McQueen and Tord Boontje, demonstrating the V&A's commitment to contemporary design.
The handmade ‘tree’ is made up of 3.3 miles of elastic cord and is over 4 meters high. A total of 1500 individual strands were combined in groups of 10 to create the outline of a traditional Christmas Tree.
Within these cords a number of geometric shapes were created, referencing both traditional Christmas ornaments and the crystalline structure of snowflakes and icicles, providing a decorative garland throughout the installation. The design for the tree was inspired by the intricate craft of bobbin lacing, a technique often used in traditional Christmas decorations.
Established in 2008, Studio Roso is a creative partnership between Danish designers Sophie Nielsen and Rolf Knudsen. The studio fuses backgrounds in architecture, art and design; making work that radiates the ephemeral nature of our environment. This hybrid practice allows Studio Roso to work in the built environment, creating site-specific sculpture and on a more intimate scale.
