From the country that brought you the Magic Roundabout...

January 21, 2006 4:22 AM

Modern Art in the London Docklands. Anyone know exactly where this incredible piece is?

How can this possibly work at a safe, efficient level? I thought that it would need those odd blinds to direct the lights.
The more specific the info, the better,

posted by dash_slot- to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

Pierre Vivant, Traffic Light Tree 1995-98, painted steel & lights
posted by roboto at 4:33 AM on January 21, 2006

I know where it is as I live closely. It is at the end of a road called Heron Quay, close to Heron Quay DLR Station. (See streetmap.co.uk -> London street -> Heron Quay). In relation to how it can possibly work as a safe, efficent level, i am not too sure what you mean by this, are you under the mistaken impression that it is a functional object d'art? The lights in no way control the traffic as it is placed in the middle of a standard non-controlled roundabout.
posted by numberstation at 5:28 AM on January 21, 2006

are you under the mistaken impression that it is a functional object d'art?

Er, yeah. I was. And my mate Kim too. Guess we're just a coupla gullibles.
posted by dash_slot- at 6:54 AM on January 21, 2006

Heh, dash_slot my friend. (sorry, no further contribution but just smiling)
posted by keijo at 8:20 AM on January 21, 2006

no further contribution but just smiling

Me too.. hello matey!!
posted by dash_slot- at 9:25 AM on January 21, 2006

I used to live in Docklands and coming up out of the Tunnel and heading towards South Quay at three in the morning after a gig, I'd always thing "Holy cr*p!" before realising the lights didn't mean anything! ;-)
posted by benzo8 at 9:47 AM on January 21, 2006

Hah, same thing benzo8. Hello dash_slot. Can't make the meetup unfortunately.
posted by keijo at 10:22 AM on January 21, 2006

Sometimes at lunchtime I'll have a wander down Marsh Wall and that thing always makes me smile, especially when I see the look of panic on drivers' faces as they approach it, lol.
posted by essexjan at 10:28 AM on January 21, 2006

This sculpture is frequently sent around in e-mail chains without attribution. I've gotten it from family members twice in sets of humor photos, one of them allegedly about dumb/weird foreigners.
posted by dhartung at 9:11 PM on January 21, 2006