The Handkerchief Tree

Art Installation The Touring Tama by Miriam Mc Connon on Merrion Sqaure

If you go down to Merrion Square today you are in for a big surprise. Not only are the Street Performance World Championships on this weekend but there is an exquisite outdoor art installation by artist Miriam Mc Connan. It is called The Touring Tama Tree and is inspired by the artist’s experiences living in Cyprus where she became interested in the tradition of handkerchiefs being  tied to trees in memory of loved ones.

This piece is made from parachute silk, lace mementos and handkerchiefs sewn together to make a super-sized hanky which is draped over one of the London Plane trees in Merrion Square. It is quite simply mesmerizing to watch the silk and lace billowing in the wind and to see the amazing shapes, shadows and patterns it forms, especially with the beautiful blue skies and golden sunshine we are having this week hovering above.

An extraordinarily beautiful sight. Go take a look and you are invited by the artist to tie a handkerchief of your own to the tree which will then be added to the piece and used for the next installation in Athens, Greece later this year.

The Touring Tama Tree installation continues until 24th June 2013