Commissions
WARP AND WEFT - PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SCULPTURE AT PLEJECENTER ROLIGHEDSPARKEN, IKAST DENMARK, 2021
“ In Ikast, a Danish town in the mid-west of Jutland, the textile industry is woven into the history of the town, the shaping of its streets and houses and the life of its people: the textile industry is omnipresent both physically and as part of the collective memory.
The textile industry has strongly helped to shape the special character of the town and its population – the spirit of entrepreneurship and initiative. An ambiance which has played a major rôle in the development from a small village to the town of today , still distinctly marked by the urge and drive to develop and create”.
( quote from: Tekstilindustriens Ikast – Et entreprenant kulturmiljø, issued by Ikast Brande Kommune/ Museum Midtjylland/ NIRAS A/S, 2019 )
The ceramic sculpture, Warp and Weft, has been created with the above story in mind. Immediately after my first visit to the site, the idea of working with the strong culture of textile and its history as an inspiration came to my mind. It felt obvious and right to develop a visual, spatial response for the garden of Plejecenter Rolighedsparken based on this story.
![warp_1 warp_1](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_1.jpg)
Scale model for sculpture, Warp and Weft, 2021 ( H 58 W 46 D 23 cm )
![warp_2 warp_2](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_2.jpg)
Plain weave sample. Construction principle
![warp_3 warp_3](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_3.jpg)
First steps of building sculpture on thick prepared shrinking slab, August 2021. Tommerup Ceramic Workshop, Denmark
![warp_4 warp_4](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_4.jpg)
Clay tubes ( diameter 16 cm ) are extruded at 3 meter lenghts
![warp_5 warp_5](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_5.jpg)
Tubes are sawn into angled bits, that are assembled to form the desired curvilinear parts
![warp_6 warp_6](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_6.jpg)
Building, supporting.......
![warp_7 warp_7](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_7.jpg)
Building .... climbing up..
![warp_8 warp_8](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_8.jpg)
Almost there - height of sculpture ca 180 cm
![warp_9 warp_9](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_9.jpg)
Dried sculpture taken to the spray booth for engobing before firing
![warp_10 warp_10](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_10.jpg)
Glazing at spray booth after first firing
![warp_11 warp_11](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_11.jpg)
Glazing with second layer
![warp_12 warp_12](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_12.jpg)
Glaze fired work being pulled out of kiln
![warp_13 warp_13](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_13.jpg)
Adding parts post firing
![warp_14 warp_14](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_14.jpg)
Sculpture being hoisted onto its base on site in Ikast, November 2021
![warp_15 warp_15](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_15.jpg)
Sculpture in place. Artist relieved..
![warp_16 warp_16](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_16.jpg)
Inauguration late November 2021
![warp_17 warp_17](https://www.martinkaldahl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/warp_17.jpg)
Sculpture on site, December 2021