Recreating the nostalgia of Christmas
Enormous Durban Christmas Tree.
An enormous 12.5m high custom-made Christmas tree, to be enjoyed by the Durban public, has been commissioned, and will be erected at the entrance to uShaka Marine World in time for Christmas.
To complement the tree, and continue the marine theme of uShaka, a selection of beautiful sea creatures will form a self-standing installation around the tree.
The idea to create a larger-than-life iconic Christmas tree to be displayed in a public place for the people of Durban was inspired by the vast Christmas decorations in Rockefeller Centre in New York, the gigantic fibre optic tree which adorns Sydney; whimsical decorations in Vienna and olde-style department store windows. Nothing quite similar exists in Durban.
“Our idea was to custom-make Durban’s newest brightest and most sparkliest Christmas tree!” said Mike Prentice, SPAR Group Marketing Director. “We wanted the tree to be 100% made in South Africa and lit by a multitude of LED lights – all locally designed and manufactured. We want to revisit the nostalgia of Christmas and create a beautiful and iconic statement in a public place which can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors.
“At a time when social cohesion and community relations are high on everyone’s agenda, what better way to start these conversations than around a Christmas tree during the season of sharing,” he said.
Project Manager Karen Haynes has roped in the city’s best to design and make the tree and marine art-work: Nevon Singh from Magic Lighting in Montclair will design and manufacture the illuminated tree; and fantasy sea creatures will be made by Robin Opperman, Ujala Sewpersad and their team from Umcebo Design.
Umcebo Design is making 14 huge mixed media fish from coke / milk bottles and bottle-tops; two enormous jelly-fish from Bonox mesh and bottle-tops and five starfish, also made from Bonox mesh and bottletops.
“We are playing to the paradox that the tree will be decorated by fish made completely from recycled and found materials – using the very objects which play a role in destroying our marine biodiversity, to send out a message of the importance of recycling and reusing,” considers Robin Opperman from Umcebo.
“We are delighted that SPAR is making such a magnanimous gesture. We are thrilled to be part of such an affirming project,” says Project Manager Karen Haynes.
uShaka is a popular destination over the year-end holidays with their busy programme of themed seasonal activities – including their much anticipated Dolphins by Starlight.
The lights will be formally turned on, and the sea creatures unveiled at a special ceremony on Thursday December 1, and can be enjoyed by the public over the festive season.
