The Tate Britain gallery has been left with an empty space where its Christmas tree should be after Tracy Emin gave it away.
The gallery had commissioned the artist to decorate a tree in her own style so she handed it over to an HIV and Aids charity.
In its place she left an empty canvas which visitors can sign.
Those who visit the gallery are invited to sign the Emin canvas and leave their addresses along with a donation to the charity Lighthouse.
The Times says she will pick a name from all those who sign it, and the winning donor will receive an original Emin artwork. Her works sell for up to £95,000.
The Tate has denied it is disappointed at its lack of a real tree and suggested that, had Emin provided them with a standard Norway spruce, complete with needles, lights and fairy, it would have belied a serious lack of imagination on the part of one of our cutting-edge artists.
"We don't expect a normal tree. We know that artists will create a different take on the idea; that's the whole point," said a spokesman.
"Emin Gives Tate a Christmas 'Space'. Available: pda.ananova.net/entertainment/story/sm_726382.html?menu=entertainment.story (December 12, 2002).
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