Tate Britain decks the halls with festive tree

The Christmas countdown has begun at Tate Britain in London, which returned to its tradition of festive artists commissions on 1 December. Iranian-born sculptor Shirazeh Houshiary has suspended a Christmas tree over the sweeping spiral staircase in the rotundathe gallerys first since 2011, when work began on its 45m makeover by architects Caruso St John. Forgoing the usual baubles and tinsel, Houshiary has turned her tree upside down and covered its roots in gold leaf to take earth back to heav