The Lebanese cedar has died. Long live the Lebanese cedar. We are looking for a work of art to “bring back to life” the tree that Fabrica, Benetton’s communication research centre, was created around. The age-old Lebanese cedar which is an essential part of Tadao Ando’s architectural, project, cannot be uprooted but only be transformed into a sculpture. Send us your ideas, take part in VIVA, an international competition for designers, architects, sculptors, artists and anyone who wants to put his creativity and imagination to the test.

First prize – 5000 Euro – execution of the project – international press publicity – official opening of the finished artwork at Fabrica – if the artist is under 25, he/she will be invited at Fabrica for 2 weeks trial period, that may enable him/her to obtain a scholarship Second prize – 2000 Euro – if the artist is under 25, he/she will be invited at Fabrica for 2 weeks trial period, that may enable him/her to obtain a scholarship

Third prize – 1000 Euro – if the artist is under 25, he/she will be invited at Fabrica for 2 weeks trial period, that may enable him/her to obtain a scholarship Selection Methods An international jury, that includes Tadao Ando, will choose the winning projects. A recording Secretary, without voting rights, will take part to jury works. Calendar September 30th, 2004 — deadline to send projects*, followed by: – jury meeting – public declaration of the winners, through a press conference – beginning of the work – official opening and exhibition with the best projects

Information The sculpture has to make use of the dead Lebanese cedar, which is within Fabrica architectural complex, designed by Tadao Ando. The cedar, as you can see from the plans and pictures in the website, cannot be uprooted, but only transformed into a sculpture. Generic dimensions of the tree: trunk at ground level has a diameter of about 76.5 cm, height of about 12 m and width of 10 m.

Required materials A. Drawings and plans mounted on a board A2 format (42cm x 59,4cm), including sketches, detail and prospective drawings, plans; B. Brief description of the project (not more than 400 words); C. Feasibility study, technical specifications, materials and estimated cost of production; D. Cv of the artist, specifying date and place of birth and the enclosed PDF duly fullfilled ;

The materials must be sent to Fabrica, at the following address: FABRICA / VIVA Competition Via Ferrarezza 31050 Catena Di Villorba (TV) Italy Contestants living outside Italy may send their projects on a Mac compatible CD-ROM in the following formats: – section A in PDF format printable on A2 (42cm x 59,4cm) size paper – sections B-C-D in PDF format or Microsoft Word printable on a A4 (21cm x 29,7cm) size paper * For material sent by mail the shipping date will bear witness. Deadline: September 30th, 2004