Slush Pile: 3 Women fall down crack

2007 Slush Pile

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3 Women fall down crack

2007 Reader Submission
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Not a death but it's only time.... Check the bit about the old woman near the bottom.

Three women have been hurt by falling into Tate Modern's latest installation - a crack in the floor.

At 548 feet long, up to three feet deep and 10inches wide, it zigzags the length of the Turbine Hall and has been described as a highly original work of art.

But visitors have already paid the price for failing to heed warning signs. And a builder said if he had been responsible for the crack he would be sued for health and safety breaches.

One young woman had to be dragged out by friends after falling into the crack in the floor but was otherwise unharmed.

A few minutes later, another visitor to the gallery, who thought the crack was painted, also fell in - this time injuring her wrist.

One observer said: "Instead of art imitating life, here it's threatening life."

Colombian artist Doris Salcedo's work Shibboleth, nick-named Doris's crack, is the latest controversial installation in the Tate's massive Turbine Hall.

The 550ft crack runs along the length of the floor in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall. It starts as a hairline fracture and widens to about a foot across.

A Tate spokesman said this afternoon: "We can confirm that three visitors missed their footing and tripped in the Turbine Hall at the opening event.

"They were attended to immediately by Tate security staff trained in first aid but there have been no serious injuries. "Twelve thousand people visited the installation on the first day and there have been no further incidents," a spokeswoman said.

But one onlooker said: "We saw the first victim, a young woman who went into it with both feet up to just below her knees. She had to be dragged out by her friends.

"As we watched to see whether she was okay, an older woman deliberately stepped on it, lurched forward and landed on the ground. She told us she thought the crack was painted on the floor."

The installation cost about £300,000 and took more than six months to complete.

Gallery managers had to secure health-and-safety clearance from Southwark Council before allowing the work to go ahead.

Creator Salcedo said it involved delicate and intricate sculpting which took place on two continents.

The crack is said to represent the division problem of integrating immigrants into European society.

The Turbine Hall exhibits are always a talking point in the art world and beyond.

Last year helter-skelter slides plunged visitors 180ft to the ground through a series of hair-raising bends .

Submitted on 10/16/2007

Submitted by: Michael
Reference: Daily Mail 10th October 2007

>> Moderator Scores <<

Chip said:
Maybe Toss: Bystanders Hurt
I am going to have to say that these people were innocent bystanders, even the old woman. Let's see what the other moderators have to say about this one. Thanks for the story, Michael.

Bruce said:
Maybe Toss: No Self-Selection
I just did a quick search and found news articles with pictures of the crack at both http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2187662,00.html and http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2007/10/museum_patrons.html. Having seen the photos I have to say that I think the people who allowed this artwork to be installed should lose their jobs at the very least. I'm willing to bet it's only a matter of time before somebody breaks an ankle or worse and ends up suing them. Given the size of the crack I can easily see how people walking through that area without paying careful attention can end up hurting themselves.

James said:
Definitely Toss: No Self-Selection
Unfortunately, all of the victims seem to be innocent bystanders, thus an automatic toss. Nevertheless, whoever approved of this silly idea (it certainly isn't art) should be duly flogged!

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2007 Slush Pile

3 Women fall down crack

2007 Reader Submission Pending Acceptance

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance