Sebastian Bergne's Contemporary Nativity Design

THE GUARDIAN
By Oliver Wainwright

Colour Nativity by Sebastian Bergne. Photograph: Sebastian Bergne

CALIFORNIA---When Saint Francis of Assisi staged the first ever nativity scene in a cave in 1223, with a simple manger, ox and an ass, he could have had no idea what he was starting. Almost 800 years later, his humble tableau has been transformed into everything from miniature toy sets that grace mantelpieces around the world, to gigantic plastic lawn ornaments and theme-park sized attractions. Sebastian Bergne's Colour Nativity is five identically-sized wooden columns – which stand in for the wise men, Joseph and shepherd, each in their characteristic colour – alongside a shorter blue block for Mary and a white oblong for the baby Jesus. [link]