STUART IAN FROST & GUNHILD LIEN
"Enshrined" captivates with its enigmatic presence. Constructed from numerous raw spruce tree trunks of various dimensions, with the bark still intact, the artwork forms a striking cylindrical shape. These trunks, arranged in repetitive size combinations, create a drop-shaped pattern that imparts a sense of visual gravity and downward movement within the piece.
Elevated three-quarters of a meter above the ground, the artwork gives the impression of floating, adding to its visual appeal. The use of spruce, a locally sourced and sustainable material, allows the piece to blend harmoniously with the surrounding grove of spruce trees, while also presenting the material in a new, alienated form. This juxtaposition makes the familiar appear intriguingly different, a characteristic hallmark of artistic expression.
One of the characteristic features of "Enshrined" is the kaleidoscope of natural hues visible in the variation of the bark, where the subtle yet stark differences create a vibrant palette of color. The location enhances the artwork, and vice versa, fostering a dialogue between nature and the passerby. "Enshrined" engages multiple senses: visitors can enter the cylindrical form, gaze up at the sky through its circular opening, listen to the forest's sounds insulated by the structure, inhale the concentrated scent of wood and resin, and feel the warm, textured wood.
The title "Enshrined" evokes the concept of cherishing and preserving nature as something sacred. It underscores the importance of valuing and protecting the natural world, especially in the face of contemporary climate challenges. This harmonious integration of art and environment not only enhances the natural spot but also serves as a poignant reminder of nature's intrinsic value and the necessity of its preservation.
Installation 6
ENSHRINED
SPRUCE
Dimension (Height x Diameter): 4,48 M x 4,07 M
Site: next to the main forest trail of rittisberg nestled in a forest belt
STUART IAN FROST
“…He is consistently faithful to the raw materials distinctiveness and inner characteristics, while at the same time putting them through extensive procedures of transformation. The thought is that this concept will make it possible to see raw materials in a new way. There is in other words a type of alienating process, which contributes to sharpen ones perceptions. At first glance, what is encountered is not what on further investigation is revealed…”
Gunhild Lien
“My work addresses various aspect of social- and environment issues, I use a variety of media depending on which medium and technique can illustrate each concept best.
The images are often incorporated and kind of subjective infrastructure of fragments from environments, photography, old family pictures, of cultural artefacts etc. This work has resulted in the execution of art projects in which this particular meetings or aggregation of different types of visual memories or pieces of consciousness has been presented”. The intention has been to compile - or the meeting between the different types of raw material, has opened up new meaning.”