Liquid Properties, 2018

Hand blown glass objects, water samples, microorganisms, metal structure.

Dimensions: approx. H 3m. x L 10m. x W 7m.

Originally commissioned by The Munch Museum for Munchmuseet on the Move, 2018


Collaboration with Marjolijn Dijkman

The sculptural installation Liquid Properties, realised in collaboration with Marjolijn Dijkman, consist of glass objects in a variety of shapes reminiscing of lab equipment glassware, buoys, ecospheres and water lenses. The glass spheres are containers for samples of water taken from various sources, and are held by a meandering metal framework. Each of the spheres have one or more lenses integrated in the glass body, slightly magnifying the organisms, particles and pollutants inside.

Studied up close, each glass sphere is an isolated ecosystems. As a total installation, they might remind of models within a taxonomic structure, or even globes within a planetary system.

The ecosystems in the glass spheres are changing over time, displaying natural processes where some organisms will thrive, others will not; some will be clear, others dense. Some might be taken over by bacteria, others may see algae growth, or perhaps the reproduction processes of creatures like tiny worms or shrimp.

Natural conditions, randomness as well as deliberate interaction will influence the live processes within the spheres. As such the installation is an experiment that ultimately looks at how we relate to (microscopic) life, questioning what is considered attractive, natural, resilient, repulsive, toxic or harmful.

Built as a modular structure, the size and form of the sculptural installation changes slightly for each realisation. The water and live inhabitants in the glass spheres are sampled from local sources, changing with each set up of the sculptural installation. 

Liquid Properties was originally commissioned by The Munch Museum for Munchmuseet on the Move, 2018, together with the thematically related film Reclaiming Vision.

Glassblowing: Vidar Koksvik
Assistants, glassblowing: Tanja Burkhardt, Ida Louise Dybdal and Peter Theodorsen
Technician, metal framework: Maarten Vanden Eynde, Marcus Bering (welding).