The Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, posted a photo of the tree on her twitter feed, saying “It symbolizes the devastation of the fires, and the resilience of the affected communities.”

Temperatures averaged a sweltering 40.9 degrees Celsius (105.6 Fahrenheit) across the country on Tuesday, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The bureau warned that temperatures are expected to climb as the heatwave spreads to the east of the country, leading to several days of “exceptional heat.”

Unlike the lush greenery and sparkling lights normally characteristic of the holiday centerpiece, the tree was constructed with charred timbers and decorated with burnt household remains from the fires — a symbolic reminder of what Australian’s are up against as the climate crisis escalates.

See smoke from bushfires blanket Sydney 01:12 (CNN)Christmas has taken a dark turn for many Australians as the country faces its hottest days on record this holiday season. As fires rage across New South Wales, a local artist has installed a Christmas tree display in downtown Sydney, the state’s […]

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Creation of the artist, James Dive,

The tree is crafted by @DDBAustralia and artist James Dive with materials from the recent bushfires.