Materials possess mystical magic associated with ancient fairy tales and religions. We see a sealed glass container that contains crude oil, the world’s fuel, the remains of ancient marine organisms, plants, algae and bacteria that lived on Earth millions of years ago, behind silk woven from fine threads spun by silkworms. Bathed in colored light, these materials reveal to us a story of the complex web of emotions, politics, science, money and power relations, gender and racial hierarchies, as well as the subjugation of non-human species. The symbolic web of these artworks refers to the idea of conflict as the driving force of development, but also to invisible influences such as desire, love and well-being. Even though these works are created purely for aesthetic reasons, they can help to contemplate these rhizomatic relations.

About Glerhúsið

All photos: Sisters Lumiere