Two visitors rescued after falling into Tate Modern's £300,000 trench artwork

 

Last updated at 12:20pm on 10th October 2007 Comments (32)

Two women have been hurt by falling into Tate Modern's latest installation - a crack in the floor.

 

At 548 feet long, up to three feet deep and 10inches wide, it zigzags the length of the Turbine Hall and has been described as a highly original work of art.

 

But visitors have already paid the price for failing to heed warning signs. And a builder said if he had been responsible for the crack he would be sued for health and safety breaches.

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Mind the gap: Two victims have already fallen into the Tate's new art installation

 

One young woman had to be dragged out by friends after falling into the crack in the floor but was otherwise unharmed.

A few minutes later, another visitor to the gallery, who thought the crack was painted, also fell in - this time injuring her wrist.

 

One observer said: "Instead of art imitating life, here it's threatening life."

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The 500ft crack runs along the length of the floor in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall

 

Colombian artist Doris Salcedo's work Shibboleth, nick-named Doris's crack, is the latest controversial installation in the Tate's massive Turbine Hall.

The 550ft crack runs along the length of the floor in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall. It starts as a hairline fracture and widens to about a foot across.

A Tate spokesman told the Guardian: "I can confirm someone lost her footing on Monday evening. We've a lot of experience in handling complex installations.

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A Tate Staff member inspects Colombian artist Doris Salcedo's work 'Shibboleth'

 

"People are being told verbally about it and handed leaflets, there is plenty of signage and many invigilators"

But one onlooker said: "We saw the first victim, a young woman who went into it with both feet up to just below her knees. She had to be dragged out by her friends.

"As we watched to see whether she was okay, an older woman deliberately stepped on it, lurched forward and landed on the ground. She told us she thought the crack was painted on the floor."

The installation cost about £300,000 and took more than six months to complete.

Gallery managers had to secure health-and-safety clearance from Southwark Council before allowing the work to go ahead.

Creator Salcedo said it involved delicate and intricate sculpting which took place on two continents.

The crack is said to represent the division problem of integrating immigrants into European society.

The Turbine Hall exhibits are always a talking point in the art world and beyond.

Last year helter-skelter slides plunged visitors 180ft to the ground through a series of hair-raising bends

And a builder said if he had been responsible for the crack he would be sued for health and safety breaches.

quite right too ;)

Can't people read the signs at the door saying "watch out for the crack" :rolleyes: