Between June 24 and July 6 there is sculpting in magnetite going on – the iron ore that the entire region lives off. In good time for the vernissage on July 6, six black sculptures will decorate ICEHOTEL.
There are already 9 heavy artworks in the ICEHOTEL sculpture park – a result of lasts summer’s art symposium when ICEHOTEL along with four other local companies invited artists to create a magnetite sculpture each.
Magnetite Heavy Art is a collaboration that will bring the magnetite into entirely new contexts, such as art and design and lead to business exchange and generate commercial activities to a greater extent. New areas of use shall be developed for the local mineral, where environments and expressions in interiors as well as public areas can be created.
Some of the artists that have been selected to this year’s symposium have worked with ICEHOTEL for many years. Åke Larsson and Lena Kriström Kulin being two of them. Lena Kriström Kulin exhibited her art this past spring at the Culture House in Luleå, Sweden and amongst the works were her magnetite sculpture Bergtagen, weighing 800 kilos. This sculpture can be viewed at ICEHOTEL during the entire summer.
Amongst the artists is also a newcomer – Malin Hallor that during 2008 takes her degree in Landscape Architecture from SLU in Ulltuna, near Uppsala, Sweden. Magnetite Heavy Art is her first official art commission.
Artists: Mark Armstrong, Malin Hallor, Lena Kriström Kulin, Åke Larsson, Gunnar-Carl Nilsson, Mikael Nille Nilsson och Sofi Ruotsalainen.
Event organizers: ICEHOTEL, Kiruna Kommun, Kiruna Magnetit AB, Kristallen i Lannavaara AB, Minelco. Sponsors are LKAB, Cementa AB.
Magnetit in short: Heavy, black, ferromagnetic, heat accumulating, anti-static, guiding, protecting, healing.
Camilla Bondareva
Press Officer ICEHOTEL
Tel: 0980-668 40
E-mail: camilla@icehotel.com