Your Daylight Destination: a borrowed view of the sky in the sand
The Deep Time project is an exciting new initiative that seeks to explore the rich cultural and ecological heritage of West Cumbria's Lake District Coast. This dynamic landscape, where the region’s National Park meets the Irish Sea, constantly changes depending on the tide, light, and weather, making it an ideal canvas for artists to create site-specific artworks that reflect the area's natural beauty, history and industry.
Olafur Eliasson and Robert Macfarlane Landmark Artwork Proposal.
The project comprises six permanent site-specific art projects and four design proposals by renowned artists and architects. Those participating in the project include partnerships between Olafur Eliasson and Robert Macfarlane, Roger Hiorns and Tom Emerson (6A), Piet Oudolf and Thomas Piper, as well as individual entries such as Rachel Whiteread, Nicolas Becker, Emanuele Coccia, AMI / Elena Hill (Artist Moving Image) and vPPR Architects. Each of these artists brings their unique perspectives and experiences to the project, creating a diverse and engaging collection of artworks that reflect the sociocultural aspects of the region.
Through this project, the artists will engage in a dialogue with the Lake District Coast's ecology, history, industry, and rugged beauty to celebrate its unique cultural and ecological heritage. In addition, the artworks will reflect the region's rich history and diverse communities, drawing on local traditions and stories to create a sense of place and belonging for visitors and locals alike. Thus, Deep Time is a project that allows the artists involved to examine the impact they could have on the region's cultural and social landscape while inviting the population across the Channel to rediscover a land with great potential.
Duddon Estuary is one of the areas of interest of the Deep Time Project.
Of the ten artists commissioned for the Deep Time project, Olafur Eliasson and Robert Macfarlane's work, Your daylight destination, is one of the most highly anticipated.
Although this pairing seems unusual given that both parties are from entirely different cultural and professional backgrounds - Eliasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist, and Macfarlane, a British writer and scholar - the two make a spectacular duo. Married by their mutual interests in natural phenomena and the relationship between nature and place, Eliasson and Macfarlane will undoubtedly bring new ideas to one another’s already well-oiled professional explorations. Furthermore, the opportunity to get different ideas about similar themes to a singular meeting point in the conceptual communication of the project will no doubt propel their artwork to the fore of the overall project.
Your daylight destination is a site-specific artwork located at Maryport, a town on the West Cumbrian coast. The artwork will take the form of a circular pavilion made from locally sourced Cumbrian slate. This unique structure will then be situated on a hill overlooking the town, offering visitors a panoramic view of the Irish Sea. While the pavilion’s centrepiece will be a mirror-polished stainless steel sphere suspended from the roof by a slender cable, the globe will be positioned to reflect the changing daylight of the surrounding landscape, creating thus a stunning visual effect that evolves throughout the day.
To physically realise this vision, the artwork will comprise two main elements, the cup and the ring, embodying the concept of making the invisible visible. The cup is a polished stainless-steel sphere suspended from the roof by a slender cable. It acts as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding environment, including the changing daylight, creating a mesmerising visual effect that evolves throughout the day. Simultaneously, the ring is a circular pavilion constructed from a Cumbrian slate and, together with the cup, provides a contemplative space where visitors can experience the natural light, connect with the local environment, and reflect on the impact of the natural world on our lives.
Olafur Eliasson and Robert Macfarlane Landmark Artwork Proposal.
To enhance the connection between the visitors and the surrounding landscape, Eliasson and Macfarlane decided that the pavilion would be surrounded by a garden of indigenous plants, creating a harmonious relationship between the artwork and the surrounding landscape. Thus, visitors will be able to explore the park, immersing themselves in the local ecology and experiencing the seasonal changes of the Cumbrian coast.
Moreover, when Macfarlane describes the artwork, he also references the Sun, Moon, and Westerliness, the ancient art of carving stones with celestial patterns, to illustrate the importance of understanding our world’s natural cycles. The artwork’s title evokes a sense of journey and discovery, of arriving where the light and the environment create a unique experience.
Olafur Eliasson and Robert Macfarlane Landmark Artwork Proposal.
As suggested in the artwork’s physical design, Eliasson's fascination with light and its impact on our world perception comprises the core of the artwork’s visual aesthetic.
Macfarlane's contribution to the work is more subtle yet equally important. His impact on the work lies in his writing, which will be inscribed on the slate surface of the pavilion. The text will explore the previously narrated themes of light, time, and our relationship with nature, providing visitors with a literary and philosophical context for their experience while highlighting the power of language to shape our understanding of the world through a unique lens.
Your daylight destination will enhance the cultural and social landscape of the Lake District Coast. The work draws on the region's natural beauty and distinctive cultural heritage, creating a dialogue between art, nature, and community. Using locally sourced materials and indigenous plants reinforces the artwork's connection to the local environment. At the same time, the mirror-polished sphere reflects the changing light of the surrounding landscape, creating a dynamic and engaging visual effect. Moreover, the chosen area for the project was carefully selected for its unique geographical and historical significance. Its deep time, spanning millions of years, offers a rich tapestry of geological, ecological, and human stories waiting to be told. The absence of pre-existing works of art in the area allows the project to create something entirely new, honouring the land's past and celebrating its present.
Overall, Your Daylight Destination is an engaging and thought-provoking artwork that embodies the concept of making the invisible visible. Eliasson and Macfarlane's collaboration has resulted in a work that draws on their respective fields of art and literature, creating a rich and multi-layered experience for visitors. It invites visitors to contemplate the relationship between time, light, and the landscape and appreciate the natural world's power and beauty. Consequently, the artwork's use of ancient celestial patterns and contemporary materials creates a unique synthesis that is both timeless and relevant.
As such, the work is a fitting tribute to the Deep Time project's mission to celebrate West Cumbria's rich cultural and ecological heritage, creating a lasting legacy for future generations.
Beatrice Gallello
En Plein Air Editor, MADE IN BED