http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/…rticleID=450075
Christmas tree display stripped
A-ha musician and multifaceted artist Magne Furuholmen decorated an evergreen tree with real money as the opening contribution to the 'Artist's Christmas Calendar' exhibition at Oslo's central train station. Two days later the tree was stripped.
Furuholmen used NOK 14,000 (USD 1,900) in new bills and coins - his honorarium for the project - to create a unique but ultimately far too tempting exhibit.
The a-ha keyboardist created four stars from banknotes, inspired by origami techniques - the Japanese art of paper folding, and threaded garlands of shiny new 5-crown coins.
An enthusiastic director of Norwegian State Railways (NSB), Einar Enger, had these prophetic words about the Furuholmen piece: "This project will cost some money, but it is something we are happy to do, so that people who walk past here can get something extra."
When the tree went up on December 1, Furuholmen admitted the combination of Yule and cash was ironic and joked: "Now, for the first time, you see how beautiful money is." Furuholmen called the tree "Intrigue" and said that he was putting forth his statement on Christmas and expected other artists to follow through.
But it was really only a matter of time before the display, with a shopping center on one side and the 'Plata', Oslo's unofficial headquarters for drug addicts, would fall victim to the realities of urban life.
In the first hours of Wednesday, the tree was virtually stripped of money, apparently by grabbing hold of one of the coin chains and using it to pull most of the available cash within reach. The area is one of the most heavily monitored public places in the country, and police will likely find the entire theft on videotape.
"If someone has stolen the money, then I hope that it is someone who really needed it," Furuholmen said.
The exhibition continues until Christmas, with eight artists pooling their talents to create the other 23 trees which will go up on display.
Tja, wer hätte das geahnt...