Traffic Light Tree

{{short description|Sculpture by Pierre Vivant}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{italic title}}

{{Infobox artwork

| title = Traffic Light Tree

| painting_alignment =

| other_language_1 =

| other_title_1 =

| other_language_2 =

| other_title_2 =

| image = Traffic Light Tree, Poplar.jpg

| image_upright =

| alt =

| caption = Pierre Vivant's Traffic Light Tree in its current location on the Trafalgar Way roundabout

| artist = Pierre Vivant

| catalogue =

| year = 1998

| completion_date =

| material =

| subject =

| height_metric =

| width_metric =

| length_metric =

| diameter_metric =

| height_imperial =

| width_imperial =

| length_imperial =

| diameter_imperial =

| dimensions =

| dimensions_ref =

| metric_unit = cm

| imperial_unit = in

| condition =

| city = London, England

| museum =

| accession =

| coordinates =

| owner =

| preceded_by =

| followed_by =

| website =

}}

Image:Traffic Light Tree Canary Wharf.jpg

Image:Traffic Light Tree.jpg

File:Traffic Light Tree from southeast in June 2014 2.ogv

Traffic Light Tree is a public sculpture in between Poplar and Blackwall, London, England, created by the French sculptor Pierre Vivant following a competition run by the Public Art Commissions Agency for the London Docklands Development Corporation under their Public Art programme. Originally situated on a roundabout in Canary Wharf, at the junction of Heron Quay, Marsh Wall and Westferry Road,{{cite web|url=http://citynoise.org/article/4212|title=The Traffic Light Tree, Pierre Vivant 1998|work=City Noise|date=12 June 2006|access-date=29 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418132759/http://citynoise.org/article/4212|archive-date=18 April 2010}} it is now located on a different roundabout near Billingsgate Market in Poplar.

Eight metres tall and containing 75 sets of lights, each controlled by computer, the sculpture was described by Vivant thus:

The Sculpture imitates the natural landscape of the adjacent London Plane Trees, while the changing pattern of the lights reveals and reflects the never ending rhythm of the surrounding domestic, financial and commercial activities.{{cite web|url=http://mindzgap.co.uk/issue3/stories/alexs_places.html|title=London's Lesser Known|first=Alexander|last=Ivanov|work=mindzgap.co.ukdate=24 March 2009|access-date=29 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822011723/http://mindzgap.co.uk/issue3/stories/alexs_places.html|archive-date=22 August 2011}}

The Public Art Commissions Agency has said "the arbitrary cycle of light changes is not supposed to mimic the seasonal rhythm of nature, but the restlessness of Canary Wharf."{{cite web|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/art/archives/148237.asp|title=Bladerunner, continued|first=Regina|last=Hackett|work=Seattle P-I|date=8 September 2008|access-date=29 September 2009}}

Traffic Light Tree was installed in 1998 on the site of a plane tree{{cite web|url=http://www.canarywharf.com/lifestyle/arts/artmap/popups/pierrevivant.htm|title=Pierre Vivant|work=canarywharf.com|access-date=29 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723105609/http://www.canarywharf.com/lifestyle/arts/artmap/popups/pierrevivant.htm|archive-date=23 July 2008}} that was suffering as a result of pollution.{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/art/features/228/4.html|title=Sculpture club|first=Helen|last=Sumpter|work=Time Out|location=London|date=10 April 2006|access-date=29 September 2009}} It was initially intended that the lights would be triggered to reflect flurries of activity on the London Stock Exchange, but this proved to be too expensive to put into practice.{{cite web|url=http://www.grand-illusions.com/articles/traffic_light_tree/|title=Grand Illusions: Traffic Light Tree|access-date=29 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721111355/http://www.grand-illusions.com/articles/traffic_light_tree/|archive-date=21 July 2009}}

Although some motorists were initially confused by the traffic lights, mistaking them for real signals, the sculpture soon became a favourite among both tourists and locals. In 2005, Saga Motor Insurance commissioned a survey asking British motorists about the best and worst roundabouts in the country. The one containing Traffic Light Tree was the clear favourite.{{cite web|url=http://www.easier.com/view/News/Motoring/article-33515.html|title=Brits vote on the best and worst roundabouts|work=easier.com|date=20 December 2005|access-date=29 September 2009}}