A public sculpture created for The Windmill Project in residency with ARNA Sweden

Hammarlunda 126, 240 35 Harlösa, Sweden

The sculpture was originally commissioned to stay in place for two years, but is now permanently next to the Hammarlunda Mölla windmill and can be visited by guests. Lights have been updated to a more permanent solution.

Through the project I wanted to talk about the heritage of the windmill and its special role in the local community. During the residency with ARNA in Harlösa, Sweden I learned about the area, the community effort to restore the Hammarlunda Mölla windmill, the future plans for it and the stories of its past. Charmed by the brilliant construction of the mill and its history, I developed a concept for a sculpture presenting two horses pulling a wagon of grains. The aim is to tell a story from its history, play with the physical space and bring attention to the site as an active space used by the community.

The design of the sculpture is created in reference to a functioning windmill. The construction implies that a farmer would enter the mill with a wagon and horses. The bags of grain would be then unloaded and taken upstairs. Researching relevant details and imagining what a horse driven wagon would have looked like, I selected a time frame based on the last long term miller that worked in the space and also ran a bakery across the street. I brought in details such as the wagons used in late 19th and early 20th century in the area, breeds of Swedish work horses that would have been common at the time and a characteristic style of a hat.

By exploring the everyday use of the space, the road right passing the mill and the path a visitor would take I decided to play with the perspective. The sculpture can be seen when passing the windmill by road, it appears as horses pulling a wagon of grain upward to the windmill, however the perspective from the windmill itself places the sculpture in front of the building that used to be run as a bakery.

Made from steel, the sculpture will rust and change it’s colour becoming closer to the iron based paint used commonly for Swedish barns. This shade of red can be seen in many places around the area. The sculpture is wrapped in red luminescent wire that can be seen glowing in the dark and creates a stitched line drawing of a horse pulling a wagon.

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By using a public space I hope activate the area around the windmill, highlight it as something much more than a landmark and to bring new interest to both it’s history and contemporary use. It has been an amazing experience to work with a community of inspirational people that share a common goal efficiently and creatively.

Visit “Odlaren” sculpture in Harlösa: