Image, on Route 365 between Þingvellir and Laugarvatn south Iceland
Some of my recent work is influenced by the old Japanese wooden architecture and their traditions. This is part of my “Japanese Teahouse series” 2005 - I borrow well known functional forms, exhibit and perform where culture and customs are different.
The visualization of the idea for the new sculpture …………………. evolved from my trips to Japan and in this case from the Kasuga-taisha Shrine in Nara, the Shrine of the thousands lanterns.
Vital part of the installation is a single lava rock brought from Búrfellshraun. It is about 8000 years old and comes from the crater Búrfell south of Hafnarfjördur, Iceland. It is colourful, uneven and with a vesicular texture but smooth in places. Through centuries the force of nature has put its mark on the rock, added moss and lichen, the colour of time.
Nature is the focus of the Shinto religion which this new work of mine relates to in more way than one. Other material used in the over life size installation is dyed wood.