Lumen Aureus
Ice Church
Åke Larsson, Marjoleine Vonk and Marnius Vroom. Sweden, The Netherlands.
The Ice Church titled ‘Lumen Aureus’, pays homage to the tradition of gilding, and daylight illumination through stained glass in medieval Christian churches. Gold leaf is here used to transform the natural light into a warm reflective glow. A substantial amount of clear ice is used in the design, with both end walls to the vault which is entirely transparent. Fourteen ice pews, rotated to focus on the alter space, serve this ethereal congregation.
Åke Larsson is once again credited as its architect. This includes the idea for a clear, sky-blue ice cross, suspended over the chancel. Åke is in the enviable position of building another ice church for the wedding of a second of his three daughters. Is he considering lining his third daughter up for a hat-trick?
Marjolein Vonk and Marinus Vroom are Dutch multi-disciplinary artists, experienced, among other things, in fashion, set and theatre design. They are long standing seasonal contributors to ICEHOTEL and specifically, the Ice Church. This year they again unload two suitcases full of drama and style onto Lapland snow, their second home.