Every exhibit in the Tate Modern is
remade from memory by Nicolas Serota (Tate Director).
He is given two hours to complete the work.
The reproductions are all half the original size.
Night falls.
The gallery is demolished and rebuilt, half the size.
The demolition and rebuild is completed in one evening.
Nicolas’ duplicates are installed.
Daybreak.
Visitors arrive and thoroughly enjoy their day.
They all feel enormous.
They love the art too.
It seems more lively,
more modern.
Night falls.
Owls hoot.
Everybody is distracted by the beauty of the moon as
the small Tate is demolished and replaced with a cardboard box.
“Tate Modern” is painted on the box in white.
It humbly looks over at St Paul’s Cathedral and waits for daybreak.
Daybreak.
It’s a confident, crisp morning.
Visitors arrive from all angles after breakfast.
Omelettes, cereals, marmalade.
They circle the gallery.
Some people start to cry.
Others chuckle.
Some pick it up and have pictures taken
with it on their head.