Introduction

Grönlund-Nisunen

Scattered Horizon

A central motif in the practice of the Finnish artist duo Tommi Grönlund and Petteri Nisunen, who began working together as Grönlund-Nisunen in 1993, is transforming their curiosity about elemental forces such as gravity, magnetism, or radiation into quietly evocative works that convey fundamental principles of these conditions. Grönlund-Nisunen’s works often employ the behaviors of natural elements to communicate specific or generalized physical phenomena. Thus, for example, air or water —in liquid or gaseous form—can become indicators of time, pressure, electrical currents, and/or energy. Similarly, light and sound function in their most basic form—as electromagnetic radiation or sound waves—yet can have an outsized impact. Executed with custom-made or pre-produced industrial materials, their work’s technical appearance is—perhaps paradoxically, but herein lies the very mystery of their work’s transformative power—tied to a visceral experience of curiosity, wonder and cognition. 

The new work, Scattered Horizon, presents three swaying lines, which hit the walls of the otherwise dark exhibition space. The horizon is generally taken for granted as a singular, fixed occurrence in nature, so the sight of it elevated, tripled and in constant movement can have a slightly disorienting effect. A complementary sound element of three sine wave tones modulating with each other adds another physical sensation, as the low frequency vibrations can be felt in one’s body. In this context, the term “immersive” describes the encounter in a literal sense: engaging visitors in a multi-sensory experience, the work is visible, audible, and palpable. We depend on the stability of our surroundings both physically and psychologically; that is why losing the stabilizing horizon line, and adapting to it, can be experienced either as meditative, thrilling or even uncomfortable, depending on the visitor. Scattered Horizon plays on these associations, but also leaves visitors the freedom to explore their physical presence and emotional response.

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