Unveiled 2016

“River Man”
by A Kassen

Three sculptures, gold, shiny, abstract forms

River Man by A Kassen contains three different sculptures, all of them shaped by the Randselva river. Foto: Kistefos.

River Man

  • Unveiled 2016
  • Materials Bronze
  • Dimensions Dimensions within 150 × 200 × 120 cm × 3
  • Artist A Kassen
  • Where Show on map

River Man is both a conceptual, performative and sculptural work. The audience’s first meeting with the artwork is characterized by the desire to understand and define these unidentified and abstract shapes. This initial encounter and desire lie at the heart of A Kassen’s artistic practice. By drawing upon an array of visual references, the artwork will reveal itself differently to different people, be itas bones, animals, shells or the human figure.

How each object took its form was not subject to artistic taste, but to the laws of physics, chemistry and nature. The performative element of the work began as liquid bronze was poured directly into the waters of the Randselva river. As the bronze hit the water it immediately set, creating unexpected and abstract shapes. Three pours were made, at three preferred locations along the river Randselva, and among hundreds, only three forms - one from each location - were chosen and cast in bronze on a monumental scale.

The unpredictability and individuality of the artwork’s shapes underline how the behavior of the water changes at each location and thus how the combinations of the universe are endless. River Man subtly reminds us how much our lives are impacted by water, as a source of life and prosperity, a geographical barrier and the reason for many a war, but also a source of artistic inspiration.

A Kassen River Man

River Man by the artistic collective A Kassen took form as liquid bronze was poured directly into the waters of the Randselva river. Photo: Kistefos.

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River Man by A Kassen contains three different sculptures, all of them shaped by the Randselva river. Foto: Kistefos.

K Istefos EA A Kassen River Man 0033

Detail from River Man by A Kassen. Photo: Einar Aslaksen.